This legislation, known as the "Stop Shut-Offs During Shutdowns Act," seeks to protect consumers from utility disconnections during federal government shutdowns. It establishes a sense of Congress that during any lapse in appropriations for the Department of Health and Human Services, state regulatory authorities and utilities should ensure that no electric or natural gas service is terminated due to inability to pay. Furthermore, it recommends that utilities make reasonable efforts to reconnect service, waive reconnection charges and late fees, and avoid increasing cost-of-service for consumers during these periods. Beyond the non-binding sense of Congress, the bill amends the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 to mandate that electric service cannot be terminated for consumers during any period when interim or full-year appropriations for the Department of Health and Human Services are not in effect. While utilities cannot retroactively assess costs incurred from complying with this mandate directly onto the affected customers, state regulatory authorities may establish alternative mechanisms. This allows utilities to recover substantial and prudently incurred costs if they cannot be recouped through standard rates, market prices, or supplemental funding.