Can an NC utility company turn off your power during a cold snap?
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- No statewide ban on outages; utilities provide Nov-Mar protections for eligible customers.
- Rules bar winter disconnections for households with elderly, disabled or on pay plans.
- Utilities must give 10-day notice, avoid weekend/holiday cuts, record special-needs homes.
Cold weather has officially arrived, and chances are you’ll be turning up the heat to stay comfortable over the next few weeks. But what happens if your utility company cuts the power?
Sometimes utilities order rolling blackouts to ease pressure on the grid, like the Christmas Eve outages in 2022, when frigid temperatures and surging demand left more than 100,000 Duke Energy customers in the Charlotte area without electricity, The Charlotte Observer reported.
In North Carolina, some residents are protected from having their utilities disconnected during the winter and early spring, and companies must follow specific steps before shutting off your service.
Here’s what to know about state rules on utility shutoffs during extreme weather.
Can NC utility companies turn your power off during freezing weather?
North Carolina doesn’t have a rule on the books that stops utility companies from shutting off your power during extreme heat or cold. But there are some protections in place during the winter months.
According to the N.C. Department of Justice, utilities can’t disconnect service between November and March if the household includes someone who:
- Is disabled or 65 years of age or older
- Are unable to pay their utility bills under an installment plan
- Are certified by a local social service agency as eligible to receive assistance under an energy assistance program
What has to happen before your utilities are shut off?
According to the NCDOJ, there are rules utility companies must follow before shutting off your power:
- You must be given a specific number of days to pay your bill.
- If your payment is late, utility companies must give you a written notice at least 10 days before disconnecting your service.
- Your power cannot be disconnected on Fridays, weekends, holidays or the day before a holiday.
Utility companies must keep a list of households with residents with special needs, such as being on life support equipment, the NCDOJ said.
And if you’re worried about an older family member missing a notice, many utilities, including Duke Energy, offer third-party notification programs, so a second person can receive copies of any termination warnings.
