This bill expresses Congress's intent to protect utility customers during federal government shutdowns. It calls on states and electric and natural gas utilities to implement a moratorium on service disconnections during any lapse in federal funding for the Department of Health and Human Services, preventing customers from losing power or gas service due to inability to pay. The bill requires utilities to waive reconnection fees and late charges, prohibits cost increases during shutdowns, and requires reconnection efforts for customers who lost service. The legislation also amends existing utility regulations to explicitly prohibit electric service termination during government funding lapses, while allowing state regulators to establish recovery mechanisms for utilities to recoup substantial and prudently incurred costs through alternative methods if necessary. The bill does not specify funding amounts or implementation timelines, instead relying on state regulators and utilities to enforce these protections whenever a federal appropriations lapse occurs.
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