SAN DIEGO, March 13, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- With the
coronavirus pandemic causing significant impact on the economy and
people's livelihoods, San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E)
announced today that it will temporarily suspend service
disconnections. The disconnection moratorium will remain in place
until further notice.
The company is urging customers who are struggling to pay their
utility bill due to financial hardships stemming from the
coronavirus to call its Customer Contact Center at 1-800-411-7343
to make payment arrangements.
"With our entire region already experiencing many disruptions
due to the coronavirus, the last thing we want our customers to
worry about is whether they can afford to keep their lights on,"
said Scott Crider, SDG&E's vice
president of customer services.
SDG&E will also waive late payment fees for business
customers whose finances have been hit hard by the coronavirus. The
company does not charge residential customers a late payment
fee.
SDG&E's response to the pandemic also includes adopting a
number of precautionary measures to protect the health and
well-being of its customers, employees, and the communities it
serves.
Health and Safety Precautions
SDG&E is following hygiene protocols recommended by the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World
Health Organization (WHO). The protective and preventative measures
SDG&E is undertaking to reduce the risk of infection include
the following:
- Providing additional hand sanitizers throughout its facilities,
including branch offices/payment locations
- Cleaning facilities more frequently with hospital-grade
disinfectants
- Limiting access to critical operational facilities
- Implementing additional hygiene measures while performing work
in customer homes and businesses, including social distancing and
the use of personal protective equipment
To ensure operational stability, SDG&E has also implemented
employee travel restrictions and protocols to limit in-person,
onsite group meetings.
Scam Alert
During times of uncertainty, scams targeting utility customers
increase. For this reason, we urge SDG&E customers to call the
company's Customer Contact Center at 1-800-411-7343, if they are
suspicious about any coronavirus-related emails or calls they
receive from people claiming to be with the company.
For Updates
As the coronavirus pandemic is rapidly evolving, we may have to
modify customer access to non-critical programs or services. Please
check sdge.com for ongoing updates.
SDG&E is an innovative San
Diego-based energy company that provides clean, safe and
reliable energy to better the lives of the people it serves in
San Diego and southern
Orange counties. The company is
committed to creating a sustainable future by providing its
electricity from renewable sources; modernizing natural gas
pipelines; accelerating the adoption of electric vehicles;
supporting numerous non-profit partners; and, investing in
innovative technologies to ensure the reliable operation of the
region's infrastructure for generations to come. SDG&E is a
subsidiary of Sempra Energy (NYSE: SRE). For more information,
visit SDGEnews.com or connect with SDG&E on Twitter
(@SDGE), Instagram (@SDGE) and Facebook.
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SOURCE San Diego Gas & Electric