HARRISBURG — The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today adopted a series of enhanced consumer protections intended to safeguard families and small businesses who are struggling financially because of the COVID-19 pandemic – and also established a framework for future discussions about utility assistance and economic recovery.

Moving forward, while still acknowledging that the pandemic and its economic effects have not disappeared, requires a mix of holistic, short-term and long-term solutions to offer customers protections and ensure the payment of bills from customers that are able to pay.

Today’s new PUC consumer safeguards modify an earlier emergency order suspending all public utility terminations, which was issued by the Commission in mid-March. Today’s action also requires detailed monthly reporting by utilities and sets in motion a process to explore longer-term solutions to address consumer and economic utility issues in 2021. The consumer safeguards and monthly reports established in the Motion will remain in effect no later than March 31, 2021, unless the Governor’s Emergency Proclamation is rescinded before that date or the Commission establishes a different timeframe.