§7–307.4.

    (a)    (1)    In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.

        (2)    “Eligible residential customer” means a residential electric or gas customer who is:

            (i)    employed by the federal or State government or a local government in the State; and

            (ii)    involuntarily furloughed from work without pay because of a government shutdown, regardless of whether the employee is required to report to work during the furlough.

        (3)    “Government shutdown” means a government shutdown that:

            (i)    occurs when government funding is unavailable to operate the governmental activities due to the lack of a legislative appropriation or a continuing resolution; and

            (ii)    lasts for a period that exceeds 7 consecutive days.

    (b)    A public service company may not terminate electric or gas service to an eligible residential customer for nonpayment on a day that a government shutdown is in effect and for 7 days after the government shutdown has ended if the customer contacts the public service company before the date of termination to:

        (1)    provide verification that the customer is an employee of the federal, State, or local government affected by the government shutdown; and

        (2)    enter into a payment plan to pay any outstanding amount on the customer’s account after the government shutdown ends.

    (c)    The Commission may adopt regulations to implement this section.