Rick Karlin is reporting for the Times Union the number of people currently behind on their gas and electric bills is at the highest level since the 2008 recession. The number of accounts in arrears will likely increase, according to data compiled by a leading consumer group. This increase is due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has led to widespread unemployment and also a shift in use as residential customers are spending a greater part of the day in their homes rather than in their offices. According to the Public Utility Law Project of New York, slightly more than 1,067,700 residential customers were in arrears, or at least 60 days overdue on their gas or electric bills as of August 20. That number represents a 20 percent increase since February, before the pandemic and attendant job losses. It represents an increase in balances owed from $587 million in 2008 to $985 million in August. “It’s more than we’ve had owed in at least the last decade,” said Richard Berkley with PULP. Those numbers are likely to rise, Berkley said. Gov. Andrew Cuomo recently extended until next March 21, a moratorium suspending utility services for people significantly behind on their bills. Berkley said there are protections such as utility company policies that allow customers to make installment payments in order to catch up with old unpaid bills. Read the full story in the Times Union.