The unemployment rate has dropped, at least in Arkansas. But not everyone is back to work yet.
During a pandemic, it's nice to see small mercies. And one of those mercies comes from the folks keeping everyone's lights on:
"Utility companies in Arkansas say they will continue adhering to an order not to disconnect customers who do not pay their bills, as the coronavirus crisis stretches into the summer months," Joseph Flaherty reports.
"Under an April 10 order from the Arkansas Public Service Commission, regulated utilities cannot disconnect customers for as long as Gov. Asa Hutchinson's state of emergency declaration persists, or until the commission rescinds its order."
Folks who are having trouble paying their bills won't have to choose between food and the electricity that's used to cook said food.
Last we heard from the governor, Arkansas was pausing its reopening efforts due to heightened covid-19 cases. That might prevent folks from getting back to work as quickly as they'd like--and paying their electric bills. Thankfully, Gov. Hutchinson's state of emergency goes until Aug. 3. And he could extend it again if our infection numbers are still climbing.
And it's not just the covid-19 numbers that are worth paying attention to. SWEPCO said 17 percent of customers are behind on payments right now. Looking at that number, this mercy may not be all that small after all.