Regulators in Maine are concerned that electric, water and other utilities may be forced into financial turmoil by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Phil Bartlett, chairman of the Maine Public Utilities Commission, says that his agency has suspended disconnections indefinitely to protect economically stressed customers. But he is also worried that the utilities may not be able to weather sustained losses.
“There’s been a concern that there’s going to be a piling up of debt that people owe to their utilities that they’re unable to pay. And this is both for residential customers and for commercial customers who may have their operations disrupted because of the pandemic,” he says.
The commission is opening new inquiries into utility finances. And the regulators are asking for information about any potential federal efforts that may be in the works to stabilize them.