Hawaiian Electric reminded the public Wednesday that customer accounts that would normally face disconnection will instead be enrolled in a 12-month payment plan to ensure that their lights remain on. Affected customers will see higher “current charges” when the first of 12 installments appears in bills starting in July.

The moratorium on disconnections set by the Public Utilities Commission ended May 31. Collection activity resumes in July for past due Hawaiian Electric customers who are not already enrolled in a payment plan.

The automatic enrollment affects about 3% of Hawaiian Electric’s residential and smaller commercial customers whose accounts meet the threshold for disconnection — and who either have not contacted the company about their past due balance or are not currently enrolled in a payment plan.

Payment reminder notices have been sent to past due customers throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The notices have urged customers to set up payment arrangement, and over the past two months informed customers that their accounts would be placed on a 12-month installment plan to avoid disconnection, averting a large one-time payment and allowing time to apply for assistance.

Customers will receive a notice with their bill when the payment plan starts that explains how the arrangement works, including instructions on how to opt out.

Bills for customers on payment plans — auto-enrolled or by customer request — will include the current charges, plus the installment amount. The installment amount will differ for each customer. If a customer’s past due amount is small, the installment amount will be a fraction of the bill. However, if a customer has not made any payment toward their account over this past year, the total current month’s bill amount could more than double.

Customers with past due balances may still go to hawaiianelectric.com/paymentarrangement to see payment plan options, including an 18-month plan for residential customers, and submit a request.

Customers experiencing hardship related to the COVID-19 pandemic are encouraged to seek government and nonprofit agency assistance. Hawaiian Electric does not administer these programs, but said it works with many of these agencies. A listing of resources is available at hawaiianelectric.com/COVID19.

Counties are disbursing millions of dollars in federal funds to renters who meet certain income qualifications. These funds can be used for rental and utility payments. Oahu renters are urged to check oneoahu.org/renthelp

for updates. Maui County renters and landlords can go to mauicounty.gov/MauiRentHelp or call (808) 873-4673.

On Hawaii island, six nonprofits are administering the rental and utility aid. They can be found at bit.ly/2T1CxE3.

Eligible customers may apply for energy credit from the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program during the month of June at bit.ly/3xHCKem.

Commercial customers can visit the state’s Business Development and Support Division’s resource page for available assistance at bit.ly/2TWgaA7.

Restaurants can review information on the federal Small Business Administration’s Restaurant Revitalization Fund at bit.ly/2SpRvne.