Vilsack says heat shutoff moratorium is a short term fix

Governor Tom Vilsack says state regulators have held off a short-term problem by extending the moratorium on power shutoffs to low-income customers who haven’t paid their wintertime heating bills. Vilsack says over the next 30 days they will determine whether or not people are financially able to make payments. Democrats last week suggested the legislature should pass a moratorium on power cutoffs for those who’ve paid at least half of their bills. But Vilsack, who’s a democrat, says there’s no immediate need for legislative action on the issue. Vilsack says utility shutoffs will be less of a hardship in May, as the weather will be warmer.