State Commissions Seek to Stop Disconnections During COVID-19

Friday by Chairman Gladys Brown Dutrieuille. “It is beyond argument that the provision of public utility service is necessary for the safety of the public,” she said. The Oklahoma Corporation Commission’s Public Utility Division is coordinating a voluntary effort by utilities to help affected state customers who may face service disconnection, the agency said Monday. Moratoriums are under consideration “for those residential customers who are directly affected by the COVID-19 virus and for high-risk residential customers,” it said. Maine telephone providers of last resort should "not engage in any disconnection activity until further notice," the Maine Public Utilities Commission said Monday. The Regulatory Commission of Alaska canceled all meetings through May 1. The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission suspended meetings for two weeks. The public may view the New York Public Service Commission's Thursday meeting by webcast only, the agency said Friday. The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission is "still holding most open meetings and workshops, however many of them are moving to online-only participation," said a Monday update. Mississippi Public Service Commission Chairman Brandon Presley tweeted Monday that he will participate by telephone in the PSC's Tuesday meeting and urged the public to view the webcast. "While the Open Meetings Act allows for telephone participation, this is the first meeting I’ve not attended in-person in 12 years, but adherence with public health recommendations is paramount." Other state commission took similar actions last week (see 2003130065).