Austin Energy to help customers affected by shutdown

As the government shutdown drags on, Austin Energy has stepped up, releasing a plan describing how it intends to help Austinites who are suffering the repercussions of not receiving a paycheck. For those directly affected by the shutdown, the city-owned utility has committed to postponing collection activity for 30 days, restoring service to customers who were disconnected for recent nonpayment and helping customers navigate the eligibility requirement for its Customer Assistance Programs or helping organize payment arrangements. “As a community-owned utility, we are here to support our customers affected by the government shutdown and who may be experiencing difficulties paying their bills,” Deputy General Manager Kerry Overton said in a statement. All of these measures are applicable until today, at which point – if the government is still shut down – the utility will re-evaluate each affected customer’s account individually and work toward a mutual solution.