South Raleigh News

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper signed an order in March blocking utility companies from shutting off power because customers they fell too far behind on paying their bills. 

The measure is one of many COVID-19 policies the state has implemented as the virus nears 500,000 cases nationwide. Specifically, the order tells utility companies to give customers at least six months to pay past due bills before charging any penalties or shutting service. 

“These protections will help families stay in their homes and keep vital services like electricity, water, and communications going as we stay at home," Cooper said in a March 31 statement. 

As of April 9, the state Department of Health and Human Services reported 3,651 positive cases in 91 counties and 65 deaths. 

“Today’s action orders that electric, gas, water and wastewater services can’t be shut off for the next 60 days,” Cooper told the News & Observer.

Cooper also encouraged phone, cable and internet services to follow the same approach to billing their customers, according to the publication. Banks have been asked to consider not charging customers overdraft fees, late fees or other penalties for the next 60 days and landlords are being asked to make accommodations to delay evictions that are caused due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

The National Guard, Cooper said, has been activated for state active duty, bringing the number of guard members in action to 180, as of March 31. Should the state begin building hospitals, the National Guard will work to move supplies and carry out assessments for engineering.

Still, the state is struggling amidst the spread of the virus, as it is short on medical supplies and protective gear, having only received about 17% of its total requested from the Strategic National Supply, according to the report. 

Gov. Cooper’s stay-at-home order keeps essential businesses open, allowing the general public to go grocery shopping, seek out medical care and be out in nature as long as they have 6 feet of distance between themselves and others.