Small business owners who have been economically impacted by COVID-19 may be eligible for assistance with their utility bills. This new, temporary program allows eligible small businesses to enter into arrangements with their utilities to catch up on past due amounts and maintain essential service.

Affected small business owners can enter into payment arrangements under new rules established by the Public Utility Commission (PUC). These customers can pay back past due amounts over a period of no less than 18 months, which may give them a better chance of staying in business until the economy recovers from the effects of the pandemic. Small businesses that have fallen behind on their bills may contact their utility companies and work out a payment plan that fits their circumstances.

Despite the various types of federal and state economic assistance programs enacted since the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020, the amount of utility customer debt has increased significantly in Pennsylvania, according to the Energy Association of Pennsylvania. The PUC imposed a moratorium on all service disconnections in March. In October, the PUC modified the moratorium to allow disconnections in some circumstances and put additional customer protections in place until spring of 2021, when it will re-examine the rules.

The Pennsylvania Office of Small Business Advocate represents the interests of small business utility customers in all matters before the PUC, before corresponding state and federal regulatory agencies, and in the courts. For more information, readers may contact ra-sba@pa.gov or 717-783-2525.