Georgia electric customers who have fallen behind on their bills get a cold-weather shield starting November 15. Between that date and March 15, a utility may not shut off residential electric service on a day when the forecast is below freezing, as long as the customer has agreed in writing to a payment plan, the Georgia Public Service Commission says.
The shield is conditional, and the condition is paperwork. A customer with a past-due balance has to agree in writing to pay it off in equal installments and to pay every bill for current service by its due date. Without the signed agreement, the freezing forecast alone does not stop a disconnection…