Stop Shut-Offs During Shutdowns Act

This bill (S 3222) requires electric and natural gas utilities to halt disconnections for non-payment during any government shutdown that causes a lapse in funding for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). It mandates that utilities must not disconnect service due to inability to pay, waive late fees and reconnection charges, and make reasonable efforts to restore service to disconnected households. The law applies to all consumers served by utilities operating under state regulatory authority during the period when HHS appropriations lapse. State regulators would oversee implementation but cannot require consumers to pay for costs incurred by utilities due to this moratorium, unless specific conditions are met.