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Relief packages for people facing hardships due to economic downturns should be temporary and well-targeted. Preference should be given to measures that also would stimulate economic activity.
Policymakers should establish rights and protections for customers who face possible termination of service.
Policymakers should prohibit fees for the disconnection or reconnection of customers. If fees are allowed, they should be based on actual utility costs.
Policymakers should ensure strong consumer protections against unfair, deceptive, or abusive acts and practices related to Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) loans.
State policymakers should establish a definition of “universal service” for the energy industry that is similar to the one in the Telecommunications Act of 1996.
Policymakers should create assistance programs to ensure that all households with low incomes can afford adequate water and sewer service. These programs should be fully funded.
Policymakers should adopt robust service standards and consumer protections to ensure fair terms and conditions for all essential utility and telecommunications services.
Policymakers should adopt and enforce network reliability and resiliency standards for utility and telecommunications services.
Policymakers should adopt programs to help consumer groups take part in regulatory proceedings. They should fully fund these programs.