HARRISBURG — Gas and electricity shutoffs have soared since passage of a 2004 law that made it easier for utilities to stop service to nonpaying customers, but the law has not universally delivered the improved bottom lines that the companies sought.

A report issued today by the state Public Utility Commission also said considerably more households faced a potentially dangerous situation heading into last winter than in the years before the law passed.

At the same time, many more households are taking part in assistance programs that are supported by customers who pay their bills. Those programs have grown by more than 50 percent to $330 million, or about $45 a year per residential gas or electric customer.

The law was enacted with the support of gas and electric utilities and has been criticized by consumer advocates because of what they said was the potential to harm low-income utility customers. Consumer advocates also criticized the law because it passed in a lame-duck legislative session without public hearings.

The law required the utility commission to issue Monday's report, the second of five, on its effectiveness.

The utility commission made no recommendations on how to change the law, but did encourage the Legislature to put more state taxpayer dollars into programs that help low-income households pay utility bills.