Q&A: Paying your utility bill when NC’s COVID moratorium expires
This story was updated on July 24, 2020, to correct information about which utility customers are affected by the moratorium deadline.
An executive order that prohibited some utility companies from charging late fees or disconnecting service for people who haven’t paid their bills is set to expire at the end of July.
Since the order went into effect, at least 1.45 million utility accounts in North Carolina have gone unpaid, with outstanding bills totaling $257.85 million. Most of the accounts are residential. How will people pay their bills during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and associated high unemployment rates?
Here are answers to your questions about the utility orders and what happens next. If you have other questions, send them to awagner@newsobserver.com.
Did the executive order cover all of my bills?
The executive order applies primarily to municipal-owned and cooperative utilities.
It does not apply to investor-owned utilities, which are regulated by the N.C. Utilities Commission. The commission oversees many of North Carolina’s largest utilities including Dominion Energy Carolinas, Duke Energy and Piedmont Natural Gas.
What about my Duke or Dominion bill?
On March 19, the commission passed an order preventing Duke, Dominion and the other companies it regulates from disconnecting service or charging late fees as long as North Carolina is under a State of Emergency for COVID-19. Many of its provisions were later included in Executive Orders 124 and 142, including giving customers at least six months to pay outstanding bills.
Do the executive orders mean my utility bills are forgiven?
No. Executive Order 124 and then 142 allowed moratoriums on utility payments. This delayed the payments; it didn’t forgive them.
Will I have to pay a late fee?
No. Any bills unpaid since March 31 are not subject to late fees, interest or other penalties, even after the order expires.
Beginning on July 30, though, any new bills you cannot pay are likely to be subject those fees and to make you eligible for disconnection, depending on your utility provider.
How long will the utility give me to repay my bill?
Your utility must give you at least six months to repay bills that have been built up since March 31.
N.C. Gov. Roy Cooper and state officials have urged utilities to set up repayment plans with individual customers. In some instances, these payment plans can extend much longer than six months.
Are there any state rules about shutting off my electricity or gas?
Yes. Investor-owned electric and gas companies cannot disconnect your service on Fridays, weekends or on holidays, according to N.C. Utilities Commission rules. They are also prohibited from shutting off service the day before a state or federal holiday.
The companies are also not allowed to cut service between Nov. 1 and March 31 if a home’s residents include someone who is disabled or at least 65 years old, unable to make regular payments and is eligible to receive energy assistance from local social services.
Who can help me pay my bills?
A variety of programs are available depending on where you live and who your utility providers are. Utilities will often help customers who are struggling to make payments connect with one of these programs.
In Wake County, for instance, the federally funded Crisis Intervention Program is designed to help people who have a heating or cooling emergency. The program can provide up to $600 a year to help pay bills.
Durham County offers the Water Hardship Fund, which helps residents who earn less than twice federal poverty level pay past due water bills. The fund can provide up to $240 in annual assistance for residents.
Individual utilities also frequently have their own aid programs or work with nonprofits to help customers pay outstanding bills. Duke Energy, for instance, offers the Energy Neighbor Fund to Duke Energy Progress customers and the Share the Warmth program to Duke Energy Carolinas customers. Both programs provide money to local nonprofits that then help customers with heating or cooling costs.
This reporting is financially supported by Report for America/GroundTruth Project and The North Carolina Local News Lab Fund, a component fund of the North Carolina Community Foundation. The News & Observer maintains full editorial control of the work. To support the future of this reporting, subscribe or donate.
This story was originally published July 22, 2020 at 3:05 PM with the headline "Q&A: Paying your utility bill when NC’s COVID moratorium expires."