Amends GS 62-159.1 by adding subsection (c) which prohibits public utilities and electric membership corporations from suspending or disconnecting service to a residential retail customer during a period of extreme heat, period of poor air quality, or extreme cold with a high temperature under 32 degrees Fahrenheit. Requires public utilities and electric membership corporations to offer customers with delinquent accounts, adversely affected by the extreme weather event, the option of settling any unpaid balance through participation in a deferred payment plan.

Amends GS 42-40 by making the following changes to the definitions: (1) action (making small, technical changes); (2) adding air quality alert (an alert that includes a warning regarding unhealthy or very unhealthy air quality in the area where a tenant’s address is located); (3) adding heat-related alert (an alert that includes an excessive heat warning, excessive heat watch, extreme heat index advisory, or heat advisory in the area where a tenant’s address is located); (4) moving the definition of landlord; (5) adding period of extreme heat (period beginning 24 hours before effective time of any heat-related alert given by the National Weather Service, or beginning at the effective time of any heat-related alert issued without announcement, and ending 48 hours after the alert expires, includes all overlapping or sequential alerts); (6) adding period of poor air quality (period beginning 24 hours before the effective time of any air quality alert issued by the Environmental Protection Agency or the NC Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), or beginning at the effective time of an alert issued without advance announcement, and ending 48 hours after the alert expires, includes all overlapping or sequential alerts); (7) adding portable air filtration device (an air purifier or similar device designed to improve indoor air quality, excluding a device that requires alteration of premises to install or use); (8) adding portable cooling device (an air conditioner, or evaporative cooler, including a window-mounted device or device designed to sit on the floor, but excluding a device that requires alteration of premises to install or use); (9) premises (making small, technical changes); and (10) protected tenant (making small, technical changes).

Adds new GS 42-42.4 prohibiting a landlord from (1) prohibiting or restricting a tenant from installing a portable cooling device or portable air filtration device, unless one of the listed exceptions applies and (2) enforcing a restriction on portable cooling or air filtration devices against a tenant unless it is allowed under GS 42-42.4 and is delivered to the tenant in writing within 48 hours of notice of the default (if provided, then a tenant must remove the offending device within 48 hours of written notice if already installed). Provides that landlord is immune from liability for any claims for damages, injury, or death caused by such device installed or used by the tenant. Requires landlord to include written information in a written rental agreement or lease notifying a tenant of their rights, responsibilities, and restrictions related to installation and operation of such devices.

Adds GS 42-42.5 prohibiting a landlord from effecting an involuntary termination of electric utility or water services for the premises due to lack of payment by tenant during a period of extreme heat or poor air quality for the area where premises is located, except as provided. If a tenant’s electricity or water utility service has been disconnected for lack of payment, the tenant can request the landlord reconnect the service during a period of extreme heat or poor air quality. Requires landlord to inform tenants in any notice of disconnection of the ability to seek reconnection and to provide information about how to make such request. Provides requirements for landlord who receives such a request and outlines what a landlord may require of the tenant, including a repayment plan that complies with the Chapter. Details permissions and restrictions related to the repayment plan.

Appropriates $100,000 in recurring funds for 2026-27 from the General Fund to the NC Utilities Commission to assemble and disseminate a report of disconnections on an annual basis.

Effective July 1, 2026, and applies to rental agreements or leases entered into or renewed on or after that date.