Duke Energy says it will continue suspending service shut-offs for nonpayment of bills in North Carolina until October, providing a month-long extension after the state’s moratorium ends, the company said in a press release on Monday.

In late March, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper signed an executive order banning utility companies from disconnecting people for nonpayment during the COVID-19 pandemic for 60 days. Toward the end of July, North Carolina’s Utilities Commission extended the moratorium on disconnections for the nonpayment of bills until Sept. 1.

As Duke Energy returns to its standard billing practices “in the coming weeks,” the company will work with North Carolina customers “experiencing financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic” by giving them until October to pay overdue balances or set up payment plans.

“Many of our customers are facing unprecedented adversity during this pandemic. We want to be thoughtful and provide extended payment options to avoid power interruptions,” Stephen De May, Duke Energy’s North Carolina president, said in the press release.

A spokeswoman for Duke Energy told North Carolina Business News Wire that the company decided to extend the suspension of disconnections one month beyond the state’s mandate to give customers one full billing cycle to prepare for the change.

According to a company spokeswoman, the company will offer payment plans for up to 12 months, with an option for a shorter timeframe. Duke Energy will also continue to waive late fees and credit and debit card fees until further notice, the spokeswoman added.

Elsewhere, in the same press release, the company said it would resume some of its field operations and non-emergency work on-site for its customers. The company emphasized that its workers will follow CDC guidelines.

Shares of Duke Energy (DUK) were last trading up 0.49 percent, or 40 cents, at $82.55 on Monday afternoon.