NV Energy, Water District to resume disconnecting some customers in September

Customers who aren’t paying, have a past-due balance and have not indicated they are facing financial hardships due to COVID-19 will have their power disconnected, NV Energy spokeswoman Jennifer Schuricht told the Review-Journal.

“ We want to work with them, and ask them to please call us,” Schuricht said of such customers.

At the onset of the pandemic, utility companies said they would suspend nonpayment disconnections and waive late fees.

Gov. Steve Sisolak praised the state’s utilities in mid-March, saying they “have committed to maintaining all services regardless of a resident’s ability to pay. That is exactly the kind of commitment that will help sustain our residents as we weather this crisis.”

NV Energy’s “collection activities” for all other customers are scheduled to resume in October.

Schuricht said the energy provider would not terminate service during any 24-hour period in which the National Weather Service forecasts the temperature will be 105 degrees or higher.

The Water District, will also “resume normal billing collections and processes for past due accounts beginning Sept. 1,” said spokesman Bronson Mack.

Customers on one of NV Energy’s flexible payment programs, such as Equal Pay or FlexPay, will not be disconnected. Mack said customers working with the Water District to set up payment arrangements will be able to keep their services.

Southwest Gas, however, will continue its moratorium on service shutoffs.

“We know many of our customers are facing difficult times during the current COVID-19 pandemic,” said spokeswoman Amy Washburn. “As a result, we will maintain our moratorium on natural gas disconnections until further notice.”

Contact Jonathan Ng at jng@reviewjournal.com. Follow @ByJonathanNg on Twitter.