Customers struggling to pay their utility bills will soon be protected from having them cut off during the hottest part of the summer.

A new law signed this week by acting governor Tahisha Way prevents a customer from having their electricity, water and sewer services shut off between June 15th and August 31st if that customer can't pay their bill because of issues like unemployment, illness or medical expenses.

A similar protection is in place in the winter months called the Winter Termination Program.

Any customer already eligible for that program will now be included in this new summer program as well.

The law comes at a time when customers are seeing their monthly bills rise by an average of 20% since June.

To help defray those costs, the State Board of Public Utilities deferred $60 from electricity bills this summer that customers can pay off over the next six months.

And ratepayers will also get a $50 credit on their electricity bills for both September and October.

[music]