Utility cutoff rule now in effect

Louisiana is among the 15 states operating under a serious weather advisory as a heat wave crosses the Southeast. Temperatures could reach dangerous levels in some areas, possibly topping 105 degrees. For Louisiana specifically, that means a special rule is now being enforced by the Public Service Commission. Approved by the PSC in 2007, the rule prevents utility companies from cutting off customers when the heat index is 105 degrees or hotter. And while it’s nice to think about right now, the same rule also stops cutoffs when winter temperatures drop below 32 degrees. For now, prolonged daytime heat is no joke in south Louisiana, especially as it combines with available humidity to produce excessive heat index values. “Hot weather like we’re having now across Louisiana becomes a life-and-death matter when you don’t have electricity to run a fan or AC unit,” says Commissioner Foster Campbell, who authored the law. The National Weather Service is forecasting that “unusually hot July weather” will persist through the weekend across Louisiana. Campbell says customers who benefit from the rule are given extra time to bring their accounts current with their utilities. “People who fall behind on their bills are not going to see their utilities cut off during this extreme weather,” he says. “They will be given time to catch up.” —Jeremy Alford