Pennsylvania lawmakers have until the end of this year to reauthorize part of a state law that protects low-income utility customers from sudden shut-offs. The shutoff law went into effect in 2004 and has to be reauthorized every 10 years. It was designed to shield people from losing heat in winter and give utility companies more options to collect unpaid bills. With another reauthorization coming up, consumer advocates are trying to make changes. They claim the current law favors utility companies and want the law changed to include a moratorium on summer shut-offs and fewer fees and fines that are added to extensions for time to pay.
