The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission is urging customers struggling with past-due utility bills to call and discuss options to help them remain connected, as the annual winter termination moratorium comes to a close.

Pennsylvania offers a moratorium on winter utility terminations for income-qualified households served by utility companies under PUC jurisdiction, but that moratorium ends on March 31.

At-risk households may be able to receive help by calling their utility companies, but can call the PUC’s Bureau of Consumer Service toll free at 800-692-7380 for additional assistance.

A PUC news release estimated that 713,000 residential utility accounts are at risk of termination, which is down from 866,000 one year ago.

The past due balances represent about $649 million in unpaid utility bills across the state, according to the PUC.