HARRISBURG — The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission is urging consumers to understand the resources and options available to help keep utility service affordable during the COVID-19 Pandemic, and to contact their utilities for assistance before bills become past-due.

“A major focus right now is to help consumers understand that there are many resources available to keep their utility bills affordable, but they need to speak up,” said PUC Chairman Gladys Dutrieuille. “We now have households across the state who may never have needed assistance before — but suddenly they’ve had their work hours reduced, or they’re not working at all, and now they’re struggling.

“We urge consumers to talk with the utilities now about the challenges they are facing so they can work together in exploring available options before households are faced with overdue bills and past-due balances. Ignoring those bills won’t make them go away, but the uncertainty will add to family stress during this very difficult time.”

Every major electric and natural gas utility overseen by the PUC offers Customer Assistance Programs (CAPs), under which qualifying low-income customers pay discounted bills. Qualification in CAP programs is based on household size and gross household income.