Should utility companies be able to find reimbursement for lost profits due to the COVID-19, they will not be able to count on Indiana residents to dig deeper into their wallets.

The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission issues an order which removed the burden from customers, stating “asking customers to go beyond their obligation and pay for service they did not receive is beyond reasonable utility relief,” a commission press release reported. The ruling comes during Phase 1 of an investigation.

The commission also made a ruling previously put in place by utilities. The pandemic has taken its toll on the economy. Jobs in the millions have become casualties to the coronavirus as families have fallen on unexpected hardships. With record reports of unemployment have come the need for government assistance as pennies are pinched.

For utilities, that means a moratorium ensuring people are able to maintain their services despite financial hardships. The commissioner ruled service rules and tariffs should be amended to prohibit disconnection for 45 days which sets a target date of Aug. 14. The commission expects the utility companies and customers to communicate in a timely fashion to make payment arrangements. Jurisdictional utility companies will be required to offer six-month plans to all of its customers. Many utility companies had already implemented a moratorium, the press release reported.

“Temporarily prohibiting disconnections until August 14, 2020 is a balanced solution that allows both customers and utilities additional time to enter into reasonable payment arrangements to address any arrearages that may have accumulated and maintain essential utility services for the benefit of all customers, the utilities and other stakeholders,” the commission reported in the press release.

The commissioner has chosen not to take an action on a request for increased operations and maintenance along with pension expenses until Phase 2 for an investigation can be analyzed for studied.

"All jurisdictional utility companies are recommended to make records of any impact from the coronavirus for possible financial recovery at a future date,” the commission said in the press release.