Pennsylvania's December 1 Winter Moratorium, 10-day notices, medical certificates, payment arrangements, assistance programs and 2026 to 2027 LIHEAP grants.
Pennsylvania's Winter Moratorium
Pennsylvania's Winter Moratorium protects consumers from utility termination between December 1 and March 31. The Public Utility Commission (PUC) publishes yearly income guidelines at 150 and 250 percent of the poverty level, and a utility can still shut off service in winter without PUC approval if your income is outside its guidelines or you fail to be a responsible customer. If service is cut during the winter, the utility must restore it within 24 hours after you pay and meet its conditions, or within seven days if street or sidewalk digging is needed. During the rest of the year, restoration takes three to seven days after you pay and meet the conditions.
Ten-day notices and the three-day contact rule
Chapter 14 of the Public Utility Code, often called the Responsible Utility Customer Protection Act, sets the shutoff steps. A utility sends a 10-day termination notice, then must try to reach you at least three days before the disconnection date with two phone attempts, one home visit, or electronic messages if you agreed to them. A notice stays valid for 60 days, so a shutoff can happen any time from day 11 to day 60. A few conditions allow a shutoff with no notice, such as stealing service, turning it on fraudulently, tampering, unsafe conditions or a bad check. Read each notice closely for the date and the amount needed to stop it.
Medical certificates and PUC payment arrangements
If you or anyone in the home is seriously ill, a licensed physician, physician assistant or nurse practitioner can certify that a shutoff would harm that person. The PUC says the initial certificate can last up to 30 days, with an extension of up to 60 more days, and you must keep paying your bill while it is on file. On payment arrangements, the utility must offer one and may have to offer another depending on your circumstances. If you cannot agree, the PUC may be able to set one for you, though current PUC policy does not allow it to set an arrangement on Customer Assistance Program arrears. After two or more broken arrangements, the utility may require the full balance.
Customer Assistance Programs and deposits
Your utility can explain the Customer Assistance Programs (CAPs) you may qualify for, and the PUC notes that a CAP payment may be the lowest amount a utility can set. Ask whether your balance already includes CAP charges, because that changes what help is available. Customers who income-qualify for a CAP may not have to pay a deposit. For others, a utility may ask for a deposit when there is bad or no credit history, a past termination for unpaid bills, two missed payments in a row, or three missed in 12 months. The PUC says the deposit may average two monthly bills, so ask how it will be billed.
LIHEAP cash and crisis grants for 2026 to 2027
The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) runs the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), and the 2026 to 2027 season runs from November 2, 2026 through April 23, 2027. A cash grant is a one-time payment of $200 to $1,000, based on household size, income and fuel type, and it goes to your utility or fuel company as a bill credit. Crisis grants cover heating emergencies such as broken equipment, running out of fuel or a threatened shutoff, and eligible applicants should get help within 10 business days, sooner when life is at risk. Apply online through COMPASS or return a paper application to your county assistance office. Renters and homeowners can both qualify.
When to bring in the PUC
Call the utility first to try to settle a dispute or work out an arrangement. If you cannot reach a resolution, you may decline the utility's offer and file a complaint with the PUC, which accepts informal complaints and also has a formal complaint process. Have the termination notice, proof of your household income and your payment history ready, and note the date of every call. If a shutoff date is only days away, tell the PUC that first. Water and sewer service in many Pennsylvania communities comes from a municipal authority rather than a PUC-regulated company, so check which rules your water provider follows.
Adding Settlemont to a Pennsylvania plan
Settlemont can help you put one verified Utility, Medical or Education bill in front of people who want to help, while your CAP, LIHEAP grant or payment arrangement does its work. You enter six details privately and never upload a statement. A one-time code then lets you name the biller in a separate private step, and staff verify the biller, the account holder and the balance. The public page lists only your first name, Pennsylvania, the category and the verified amount. Any support a supporter chooses is paid straight to your electric, gas or water company, and the bill owner pays no fees. Posting does not guarantee the bill is covered before the due date.
Sources
- Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission: Protections for Responsible Utility Customers (2026)
- Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission: Act 201 consumer guide
- Pennsylvania Department of Human Services: Apply for LIHEAP
Facts checked November 2026. Rules change, so confirm with the agency or utility before relying on a protection.
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