The energy company PECO said it is suspending disconnections as a support action due to the spread of the Covid-19. According to PECO, service disconnections have been suspended through at least May 1.
As an additional measure, the power company is waiving new late payment charges through May 1.
PECO serves 1.6 million electric customers and more than 511,000 natural gas customers in Chester, Delaware, and Philadelphia counties, as well as parts of Lancaster, Montgomery, and York counties.
The company ensured its customers the supply of electricity and natural gas services.
Mike Innocenzo, PECO President & CEO, remarked the compromise of the company in a press reléase. “We´re committed to helping every customer through this difficult time, which is why we´ve reasonably suspended all electrical service terminations.”
Our mission is to keep the lights on & natural gas flowing.
Here’s PECO President & CEO Mike Innocenzo sharing how we plan to do that during the #COVID19 pandemic. pic.twitter.com/KyMu8lJL5c
— PECO (@PECOconnect) March 14, 2020
PECO closed its Customer Solution Center, so customers who need information concerning payment arrangements and credit issues should contact PECO at 1-888-480-1533 or visit its website.
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Many utilities that sell electricity and gas across the country are suspending disconnections of customers who do not pay their bills during the coronavirus crisis, or are being ordered to suspend disconnections by regulators or other government officials.
Many investor-owned utility companies have suspended disconnections, including Ameren, American Electric Power, Dominion Energy, Duke Energy, Evergy, FirstEnergy, Georgia Power, NV Energy, PG&E, Southern California Edison, Xcel Energy and others.
Other utilities are saying that they will not suspend disconnections, or are making commitments that appear to be more limited in scope.
The Energy and Policy Institute (EPI) is collecting data based on published reports about which utilities are suspending disconnections, and which public utility commissions or other governmental bodies are ordering suspensions. EPI reached out on Friday, March 13, to about two dozen large utility companies directly to ask whether they would be suspending disconnections.