§ 7-307-4

(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. (2) 'Eligible residential customer' means a residential electric or gas customer who is: (i) employed by the federal or State government or a local government in the State; and (ii) involuntarily furloughed from work without pay because of a government shutdown, regardless of whether the employee is required to report to work during the furlough. (3) 'Government shutdown' means a government shutdown that: (i) occurs when government funding is unavailable to operate the governmental activities due to the lack of a legislative appropriation or a continuing resolution; and (ii) lasts for a period that exceeds 7 consecutive days. (b) A public service company may not terminate electric or gas service to an eligible residential customer for nonpayment on a day that a government shutdown is in effect and for 7 days after the government shutdown has ended if the customer contacts the public service company before the date of termination to: (1) provide verification that the customer is an employee of the federal, State, or local government affected by the government shutdown; and (2) enter into a payment plan to pay

e of termination to: (1) provide verification that the customer is an employee of the federal, State, or local government affected by the government shutdown; and (2) enter into a payment plan to pay any outstanding amount on the customer’s account after the government shutdown ends. (c) The Commission may adopt regulations to implement this section.