Northfield's State Senator Reminds Residents of 'Cold Weather Rule'

As the days get shorter and the nights get colder, Senator Kevin Dahle (DFL-Northfield) is encouraging residents of southern Minnesota to contact their utilities now and learn more about the Cold Weather Rule that protects residential utility customers from having their heat shut off during the winter months.

To prevent heating disconnection, customers must first contact their utility to establish and maintain a monthly payment plan. All electric and natural gas companies are required to offer Cold Weather Rule protection, according to a news release.

“The Cold Weather Rule and the Energy Assistance Program provides a safety net for families to prevent anyone from losing heat during the winter months. This is a simple, common-sense rule to protect children and families, and anyone who qualifies should take advantage of this important program,” Dahle said in a statement.

Under the Cold Weather Rule, customers who have a combined household income at or below 50 percent of the state median income ($47,194 for a family of four) are not required to pay more than 10 percent of their household income toward current and past heating bills. Others are also eligible to arrange a Cold Weather Rule payment plan.

The rule takes effect on October 15 and continues through April 15, 2017.

Minnesotans who heat their home using delivered fuel, such as fuel oil, propane, or wood are not covered by the Cold Weather Rule, but may qualify for Minnesota’s low income energy assistance program. Learn more about how to sign up here.

Image via Conal Gallagher, Flickr, used under Creative Commons