Will I Get Cut Off?
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Pennsylvania

PAStrong
10
Days notice (electric)
10
Days notice (gas)
✓
Winter moratorium
✓
Medical exemption

What to do today

If you have a shutoff notice, the date on it is the one that matters. These steps work best in this order.

  1. Call your utility before the date on your notice

    Ask for a payment plan or a deferred payment arrangement. Most states require your utility to offer one, and asking before the date is what keeps your service on. The number is on your bill.

  2. Apply for energy assistance

    LIHEAP helps with utility bills and does not have to be paid back. Call the national referral line on 1-866-674-6327 weekdays 9am to 7pm Eastern, or visit energyhelp.us.

  3. Dial 211 for local help

    211 is free and connects you to local funds for utilities, rent and food. Some local agencies can pay a utility directly to stop a shutoff.

  4. Ask about medical certification

    Pennsylvania recognises medical protections. If anyone in your home has a serious illness or relies on powered medical equipment, a note from a doctor can delay a shutoff. Ask your utility for the form today, because it usually has to be back within days.

  5. Contact the regulator if your utility will not work with you

    puc.pa.gov handles complaints against regulated utilities in Pennsylvania. Filing one can pause a disconnection while it is looked at.

ElectricGasWaterMedicalLow IncomeRegulator

Electric Shutoff Rules

Regulatory notice required10 days
Reconnection feeVaries by utility
Winter moratorium: December 1–March 31: utilities cannot terminate service to residential customers at or below 250% of the federal poverty level. Service disconnected during this period must be restored within 24 hours of payment. No terminations on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, holidays, or day before holidays to ensure reconnection access. Third-party notification program allows a designated person to receive copies of shutoff notices.

Gas Shutoff Rules

Regulatory notice required10 days
Reconnection feeVaries by utility

Water Shutoff Rules

Regulatory notice requiredNot regulated / varies

Major Utilities

PA American WaterAqua PAPhila Water DeptPgh Water & Sewer…York Water Co

Pennsylvania American Water

36+ counties statewide, approx. 2.5 million people served

10-day notice
Dec 1–Mar 31: heat-related water service protected regardless of income
Medical certificate postpones shutoff 30 days (renewable twice)
PUC-regulated under 52 Pa. Code Chapter 56
10-day written notice required
3-day personal contact attempt before shutoff
Shutoffs Monday–Thursday only
H2O Help to Others CAP program: 30–90% discount for income ≤200% FPL
grants up to $500/year for ≤250% FPL
Reconnection fee:$30 during business hours; actual cost for after-hours. Fee waived for customers at or below 200% FPL.
"Rights Responsibilities." amwater.com. Retrieved 14 May 2026.

Aqua Pennsylvania

Approx. 1.5 million people across PA; four divisions covering 30+ counties

10-day notice
Dec 1–Mar 31: heat-related service protected
Medical certificate: physician must contact Aqua within 15 days of bill issuance, written statement within 20 days
PUC-regulated under 52 Pa. Code Chapter 56
10-day written notice (valid 60 days)
3-day personal contact attempt required
No shutoffs before holidays
disconnection delayed up to 45 days from bill issuance
Aqua Aid PA program for low-income customers
Reconnection fee:Not confirmed from primary source — tariff PDFs are binary-compressed. Call 877-987-2782 to confirm.
"Aqua Pennsylvania." aquawater.com. Retrieved 14 May 2026.

Philadelphia Water Department

City of Philadelphia; approx. 1.5 million residents

35-day notice
Medical certificate delays shutoff 30 days
Municipal utility — NOT PUC-regulated
35-day notice for balances over $1,000 (2+ billing cycles). 'Raise Your Hand' program: households with a senior (65+), disabled person, or child under 18 are categorically exempt from shutoff — no income test required
TAP enrollees exempt from shutoff
Payment plans require 25% down
TAP debt forgiven after 24 qualifying on-time payments
Reconnection fee:$100 for standard lines (≤2 inch); $385 for lines over 2 inches. TAP enrollees: $100.
"Water Shutoffs." phila.gov. Retrieved 14 May 2026.

Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority (PWSA)

City of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County

10-day notice
Winter moratorium for customers at or below 300% FPL (broader than PUC minimum)
PUC-regulated since 2018
follows 52 Pa. Code Chapter 56
10-day written notice required
Bill Discount Program: first 1,000 gal/month free + 85% stormwater fee reduction for ≤200% FPL
Hardship grants up to $450/year water and $450/year wastewater via Dollar Energy Fund. $40/month arrearage forgiveness for on-time payers at ≤200% FPL
Reconnection fee:Currently waived for all customers.
"Customer Assistance Programs." pgh2o.com. Retrieved 14 May 2026.

York Water Company

South-central PA — primarily Adams, Cumberland, and York counties

10-day notice
Dec 1–Mar 31: heat-related water service protected
Medical certificate postpones shutoff 30 days (renewable up to twice)
PUC-regulated
follows 52 Pa. Code Chapter 56
10-day written notice (valid 60 days)
3-day personal contact attempt required
Monday–Thursday shutoffs only
Customer Assistance Program available for low-income customers
Reconnection fee:Charged per tariff; exact amount not confirmed from web-readable sources.
"Customer Rights." yorkwater.com. Retrieved 14 May 2026.

Medical & Vulnerable Household Exemptions

Utility must make in-person or two-day phone contact 3 days before shutoff. Medical conditions cause 30-day postponement upon certification. Third-party notification program helps ensure medically vulnerable customers are protected.

Low-Income Protections

LIHEAP / CRISIS program available through PA DHS. Customer Assistance Program (CAP) required for all major electric and gas utilities in PA — CAP covers bill payment assistance, arrearage forgiveness, and reduced payment plans. PPL, PECO, Columbia Gas, and others all operate CAP programs.

Your State Regulator

File a complaint or get help from Pennsylvania's utility regulator →

Data last verified: 2026-05-14. Rules may change — verify with your state regulator.