FRANKFORT, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) — Nearly 40 advocacy groups are calling on Gov. Andy Beshear to stop winter utility shutoffs, warning that rising costs and gaps in state policy could leave vulnerable Kentuckians without heat.

The coalition is holding a “Leave the Heat On” rally at 11 a.m. Tuesday on the north lawn of the State Capitol. Organizers say confusion stemming from the recent federal government shutdown, higher energy bills and uncertainty around programs such as SNAP and LIHEAP have increased the risk for households already struggling to afford utilities.

In a statement, the groups urged Beshear to use his executive authority to prevent disconnections during extreme weather and to issue a moratorium on utility shutoffs through March 2026 .

Kentucky does not have a state

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