If you haven't paid the bill of electricity or natural gas, the service may be cut, but there are rules to prevent it. ERSE explains how the process works and what to do.
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22/10/2026
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News to Minutes
Sand did not pay the electricity or natural gas invoice, the service may be cut, but there are rules, as explained by the Energy Services Regulatory Authority (ERSE).
No ACE Bulletin – Energy Consumer Support for the 3rd quarter of 2026, ERSE presents some questions and answers on how to cut these services. Be aware:
How to avoid cutting?
“ Contact the marketer. If you can't afford everything at once, ask for a payment plan in instalments. Usually marketers help solve the situation.”
Is there a court notice?
“ Yes, it is mandatory to send a notice, written, 20 days in advance.”
What information does the notice contain?
- Cause of cut;
- How to avoid cutting;
- Costs of cutting and reconnecting the supply.
Can you reduce the contracted power?
“ Yes, in electricity, before cutting, the contracted power shall be reduced to a minimum of 1.15 kVA per phase, after informing the customer 5 days in advance. With this reduction in power, it is difficult to use appliances. If you continue without paying, the service can be cut 20 days from the date of power reduction.”
Can the service be cut on the weekend?
“ The cut cannot be done on Friday, on holiday eves, on holidays, or during weekends.”
After you pay, when will you get a light or gas again?
ERSE explains that “after paying or making a payment agreement with the trader, it has, a maximum of 30 minutes to communicate to the network operator that the reconnection or replacement of the contracted power shall be carried out within the following deadlines”:
- Electricity
– 6 hours (12 hours if you do not have an integrated smart network counter).
– The deadline shall not be between 0:00 and 8:00, nor on holidays and weekends, unless it is a priority customer.
– You can request urgent reconnection (up to 3 hours or up to 4 hours if you don't have an integrated smart network counter) by paying an additional amount.
- Natural gas
- 12-hour deadline.
– The deadline is not between 0:00 and 8:00, nor on holidays and weekends.
– You can request urgent reconnection (up to 4 hours), paying an additional amount.
ERSE stresses that there may be other causes of cut, including:
- Lack of access to the counter;
- Fortuitous or force majeure cases;
- Safety or service reasons;
- The existence of energy to third parties;
- Misappropriated energy.