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Georgia Power, Other Companies Suspend Disconnections Amidst COVID-19 Concerns
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As many Georgians prepare to work and study from home as schools and offices close to prevent the spread of coronavirus, several companies are taking steps to make sure people are not left without the basics.
As of Saturday, Georgia Power will not disconnect residential customers who cannot pay their bill for the next 30 days.
With the recent news about #COVID19, we want to assure you we have detailed plans in place to continue providing the safe and reliable energy you expect and deserve.— Georgia Power (@GeorgiaPower) March 13, 2020
Spokesperson John Kraft said the decision will give people one less thing to worry about.
“Certainly, we know the pandemic and the related shutdown has affected many families across Georgia,” Kraft said. “We work here sure, but we live here too. We understand what families are going through.”
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Atlanta Gas Light has also suspended nonpayment disconnections for the rest of the week.
Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms instructed the city’s watershed not to disconnect service due to nonpayment until May.
“The health and wellbeing of Atlanta residents is at the forefront of everything we do as a city,” Bottoms said last week. “Access to water is paramount in the prevention of COVID-19 or any infectious health threat and no one should be deprived of this fundamental resource because of an inability to pay.”
Meanwhile, virtually every major internet provider has joined an FCC pledge not to terminate service for residential and small business customers for the next two months.
In wake of #Covid_19 outbreak, telework, remote learning, and telehealth are key. We must ensure that Americans don't lose their broadband or telephone connectivity. That's why I've challenged broadband providers to take the #KeepAmericansConnected Pledge. https://t.co/bjXINd0gMY pic.twitter.com/R3cq3yZtiW— Ajit Pai (@AjitPaiFCC) March 13, 2020
Companies that have signed the pledge include AT&T, Charter, Comcast, Cox, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon, among others.
AT&T is also ditching its broadband internet data caps for customers who are riding out the pandemic at home, while Sprint and Verizon are extending data plans for mobile phones.
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