Sen. Waddell files bill in North Carolina Senate to limit utility shutoffs during extreme weather

The new bill filed by State Sen. Joyce Waddell aims to protect residents from utility shutoffs during hazardous weather and improve tenant rights regarding essential services, according to the North Carolina State Senate.

The bill, filed as SB 1027 on April 30 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Extreme Heat/Ban Utility Disconnections.’

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill bars public utilities and electric membership corporations from disconnecting residential service during periods of extreme heat, extreme cold below 32 degrees or poor air quality and requires deferred payment plans for affected delinquent customers. It defines heat and air quality alerts and gives residential tenants a right to install portable cooling and air filtration devices, with limited safety and damage-related exceptions. It restricts landlords from cutting off or refusing to reconnect electricity or water for nonpayment during extreme heat or poor air quality, and sets income-based repayment plan rules. It appropriates $100,000 annually for the Utilities Commission to report on disconnections and takes effect July 1, 2026, for leases entered into or renewed on or after that date.

Of the three sponsors of this bill, Natalie S. Murdock proposed the most bills (104) during the 2025 regular session.

Bills in North Carolina follow a multi-step process before becoming law. A lawmaker starts by filing a bill, which is assigned to a committee for review. The bill must be read three times in each chamber. If one chamber changes the bill after the other passes it, both must agree on the final version. Once both chambers approve the same bill, it goes to the governor, who has 10 days (or 30 if the legislature is not in session) to sign, veto, or let it become law without a signature.

You can read more about the bills and other measures here.

Waddell graduated from South Carolina State University.

Waddell, a Democrat, was elected to the North Carolina State Senate in 2015 to represent the state’s 40th Senate district, replacing previous state senator Malcolm Graham.