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DULUTH — Minnesota’s Cold Weather Rule takes effect Oct. 1, but the winter protection is not an automatic ban on electric shutoffs.
Minnesota Power is urging customers who are behind on their bills to contact the utility and establish a payment plan before falling deeper into arrears or facing possible disconnection. Under state law, qualifying residential customers can receive protection from service shutoffs from Oct. 1 through April 30 when disconnection would affect their primary source of heat, but they must set up and maintain an agreed-upon payment plan.
Customers who do not establish a plan or fail to make required payments can still have their electricity disconnected during the winter.
That distinction is especially important as households enter the heating season with higher living costs and competing demands on household budgets, Minnesota Power officials said.
“We understand people can sometimes fall behind on bills, especially in this time of high fuel prices and other competing demands on limited household budgets. We have numerous resources that can help with both current bills and paying off past-due balances,” said Tina Koecher, director of Customer Experience Operations. “As one example, with support from our acquisition partners, we have recently rolled out our On Track Program, which is meant to help residential customers who have a past-due balance. We know how essential our services are to homes in northeastern Minnesota, especially during the cold winter months. It is incredibly important that customers reach out to us so we can work with them to find options.”
Minnesota Power said customers with past-due balances should call 800-228-4966 as soon as possible. The utility said payment arrangements can be structured around a household’s financial circumstances.
Customers who receive a proposed shut-off notice during the winter also should contact the company immediately. Residential customers whose service already has been disconnected may be able to establish a payment plan and have service restored under the Cold Weather Rule.
The start of the Cold Weather Rule also coincides with a new program year for Minnesota’s Energy Assistance Program, which can provide financial help to qualifying households struggling with heating and electric costs.
Minnesota Power officials said participation remains substantially below the number of households believed to be eligible.
“On average, only about twenty percent of eligible customers in the state apply for energy assistance,” said Koecher. “This is concerning because we know there is greater need out there. When people don’t apply, it gives the impression that Minnesotans don’t need those federal dollars and puts them at risk to be allocated to other states where need is more strongly demonstrated. With the uncertainty in funding that Energy Assistance Programs have faced recently, it is more important than ever that customers apply.”
Customers can apply for Energy Assistance online at mn.gov/home or obtain paper applications through local agencies. People seeking their local agency can call 800-657-3710. Applications generally are handled in the order received, and Minnesota Power is encouraging customers to apply early.
Households approved for Energy Assistance also may qualify for other benefits, including certain fee reductions, bill discounts, weatherization assistance and energy-efficiency programs.
Minnesota Power also has added another option for customers carrying past-due balances. Its new On Track program offers eligible residential customers a $20 monthly electric-bill discount and a dollar-for-dollar company match on payments made toward past-due balances under a payment arrangement.
The program does not have an income requirement, although available funding is limited and distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.
Minnesota Power also operates its Customer Affordability of Residential Electricity, or CARE, program, which provides income-based electric-bill discounts to qualifying customers. Information about CARE is available at mnpower.com/care.
Additional assistance is available through the Salvation Army’s HeatShare program for customers who cannot pay energy bills or afford heating-related repairs.
Minnesota Power also is warning customers to be alert for scams as the heating season begins. The company said it does not telephone customers demanding immediate payment, ask for credit or debit account numbers or threaten immediate disconnection over the phone.
Customers receiving suspicious calls should not provide account or financial information. Instead, they should hang up and contact Minnesota Power directly at 800-228-4966 to verify their account status. Suspicious calls also can be reported to local law enforcement.
Minnesota Power serves approximately 150,000 customers across a 26,000-square-mile area of northeastern Minnesota, including 14 municipalities and several of the region’s largest industrial customers.
