In the past, a utility had to come out to your property and physically disconnect a wire or close a valve with a lock if you didn’t pay your bill. Now with smart metering devices (for utilities) and computerized billing automation, the relay or solenoid is often integrated into the metering system or the service can be suspected electronically because there is no physical connection anymore.
The $15-$30 per cell phone line or $60 for power to be restored is an inconceivably expensive excuse to collect money from those who can afford it the least. Paying the reconnect fee doesn't forgive any past due balance - that amount is still due. It also puts increase pressure for customers to agree to payment that they have no hope of making because they just really need power on to be able to cool their home or cell phone to be able to do their job, which creates this cycle of disconnect/reconnect every month that becomes a tax for being poor.