Ban on utility shutoffs is to set to end in North Carolina

RALEIGH, NC (AP) — A moratorium on utility shutoffs in North Carolina is set to expire at the end of the month.

The Raleigh News & Observer reports that the ban issued by North Carolina’s Utilities Commission expires on Sept. 1.

The utility commission, however, has directed utilities to allow customers at least 12 months to repay overdue bills. That means a doubling of a six-month grace period that was previously in place.

The Utilities Commission reported last month that more than 1.3 million residential customers in the state have avoided shutoffs because of the moratorium.