PARKERSBURG — The Parkersburg Utility Board is resuming late fees and service terminations for unpaid bills.

The board had waived those practices since March because of economic hardships related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The West Virginia Public Service Commission, which regulates utilities in the state, urged utilities to voluntarily stop service terminations in March, when many businesses and activities in the state slowed down or closed in an effort to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus. In June, the commission issued an order saying terminations could resume July 1.

The utility board voted 5-0 on July 7 to return to its normal operations regarding terminations and late fees.

“We cannot continue to not collect for services rendered,” PUB Manager Eric Bennett said Tuesday.

Utility Board Comptroller Erin Hall said there are approximately 1,300 utility customers who still owe for a bill issued May 31 or before.

The past-due balance for those accounts is approximately $205,000, Hall said. About $116,000 worth would have already been eligible for disconnection if service terminations hadn’t been suspended, she said.

A notice of termination is mailed out about two-and-a-half weeks after the original payment due date. If the money isn’t receive by the date in that notice, the utility makes two phone calls to notify them of the pending termination, Hall said. Shut-off orders are usually processed around the 25th of each month, nearly two months after the initial bills were mailed, she said.

“Many times when the customer receives this notification they will make a payment on the past-due amount of their account,” she said.

Bennett said termination notices were sent out after the July 7 vote by the board, and disconnections will begin the week.

Some customers have taken action to avoid termination, which does not necessarily require paying the full amount all at once.

“We have had some that have done payment arrangements,” Bennett said. “Our staff will be more than willing to do that.”

The Utility Board billing office remains closed to the public because of the pandemic. Customers can pay online or take their payment to the dropbox at 1919 Garfield Ave. The billing office can be reached by phone at 304-424-8550.

Bennett said the city of Parkersburg approved a COVID-relief fund for families, using federal money to provide emergency payments for up to 90 days for low-to-moderate-income individuals or families facing homelessness or utility cutoffs. Mayor Tom Joyce said it is expected to launch in early August.