Understanding Minnesota’s Cold Weather Rule
Minnesota’s harsh winter weather makes home heating essential. But sometimes, life can make it difficult to balance bills and other financial obligations. Don’t worry—help is available. Understanding Minnesota’s Cold Weather Rule, as well as how to utilize it, can help you ensure your home has heat all season long. Read on to learn more. What is the Cold Weather Rule? Minnesota’s Cold Weather Rule (CWR) protects residents from having their electric or gas service disconnected during our frigid winter months, October 1 to April 30. Essentially, this state law requires utility providers to offer a payment plan to qualifying customers, which they must then make and keep for service to continue. What is the Utility Disconnection Process? The CWR outlines a utility’s duties prior to disconnection. According to the Minnesota Municipal Utilities Association (MMUA), before shutting off service (between October 1 and April 30), the utility must provide the customer with: The CWR also outlines what customers must do to prevent disconnection, which we’ll discuss in the next section. How Do I Get Help Paying My Energy Bill Under the CWR? While the CWR protects residential utility customers from losing service, there is a process to be followed. Both renters and owners can qualify for CWR protection, given that the account is in […]
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