HAMPTON ROADS, Va. (WAVY) — Virginia’s new utility shutoff law is designed to give people extra time before they have their lights, gas or water turned off.
The Emergency Utilities Protection Act was passed during the most recent General Assembly session in Richmond. Lawmakers who wrote the bill say it puts the health and safety of residents first.
The bill, which received bipartisan support and was initially proposed during the COVID-19 pandemic, addresses concerns over the vulnerability of residents struggling to pay bills amid economic challenges made worse by extreme weather events.
Here are the stipulations when companies cannot disconnect services:
- When the temperature is at or below 32 degrees and is at or above 92 degrees
- On Fridays, weekends, state holidays and the day before a state holiday
- During a state of emergency declared by the governor in response to a public health emergency such as the COVID-19 pandemic
- For customers who have received state emergency assistance in the past 12 months
- And before an account is 60 days past due for customers of utilities regulated by the State Corporation Commission or 45 days past due for local customers
“As we continue to approach the heart of summer — in particular, it’s heating up, it’s warming up — we want people to know that there is a protection for you if you find yourself in a difficult position,” said State Sen. Lashrecse Aird, a Democrat who serves Surry and Sussex counties.
Said Dominion Energy’s Craig Carper: “Say none of this has worked, and they’re set for disconnection and the temperature exceeds 92 degrees. What happens? Nothing. We wait until temperatures go below 92 degrees, and then we make a final attempt, giving some additional help to customers when it’s really hot or cold outside.”
A notice of non-payment must be delivered to the customer before a disconnection by at least one or two of the following methods — mail, email, text message, phone call or door hanger.
