ITHACA, NY (607NewsNow) — Rep. Josh Riley is asking for a guarantee. 

Riley wants NYSEG and National Grid to publicly guarantee they won’t shut off service, charge late fees or interest, or send accounts to collections for customers struggling to keep up with payments because of the government shutdown.

“If these companies can afford executive bonuses and armies of lobbyists, then they can afford to give a little grace to working families who are already paying some of the highest utility bills in the country,” Riley said. “Upstate families shouldn’t have to worry about losing electricity or heat just so overseas investors can squeeze a few more dollars out of them.”

An estimated 4,000 federal government workers live in the 19th Congressional district, according to the Congressional Research Service.

“These companies have a chance to do the right thing, and I expect them to take it,” Riley added. He wants a public response from both companies by Monday, Oct. 27 at 5 p.m.

The shutdown began just after midnight on Oct. 1.