Dominion extends ‘no disconnect’ policy in SC as coronavirus continues to spread
Dominion Energy will not disconnect any S.C. customers’ power until mid-September, part of the utility’s attempt to help residents still struggling with the fallout of the coronavirus pandemic.
The S.C. power company announced the policy on Monday, along with boosting its financial assistance for customers and offering more flexible payment plans.
“We are committed to making it easy for customers to work with us and to find payment arrangements or plans that best match their individual budgets and circumstances,” Rodney Blevins, president of Dominion Energy South Carolina, said in a press release. “This is a difficult time for everyone. We want to help make it a little less stressful.”
Dominion suspended disconnections in March as much of the state’s economy began to shut down due to the coronavirus outbreak in the state, as many other utilities sought to lessen the economic impact for people who may have lost their jobs or otherwise been affected by the virus.
The S.C. Public Service Commission required utilities to keep customers’ services intact at the beginning of the outbreak, but that legal requirement expired May 14. Dominion said Monday it would not disconnect any customers’ services until Sept. 14.
The company will also waive late fees, reconnection fees and interest payments during this period, Dominion announced.
The utility also announced it is committing $500,000 to its bill assistance program, on top of a $250,000 commitment already announced. Customers can also sign up for a new installment plan that will spread past due balances over a six-month period, Dominion said.
Monday’s announcement brings Dominion in line with other utilities at this time. The city of Columbia has suspended disconnecting water customers during the pandemic. South Carolina Chief Justice Don Beatty also halted eviction proceedings in the state starting in mid-March, although evictions were allowed to proceed beginning in May.
The spread of COVID-19 has sharply effected the state’s economy. South Carolina’s unemployment rate last month was 12.5%, up from 2.4% at the beginning of the year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
This story was originally published June 22, 2020 at 1:57 PM.
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