Make sure you stay warm
02/01/2009
The combination of cold temperatures and a bad economy can make it tough to pay the bills. Minnesota's Cold Weather Rule prevents utilities from disconnecting a household's main source of heat during the cold-weather months (October -April), as long as they establish a payment agreement and make the required payments.
These payments, which cannot be greater than 10 percent of a low-income family's income, are established through negotiations between the utility and customer. The Cold Weather Rule applies to all natural gas and electric utilities, and requires them to reconnect customers if they were previously shut off once they enter into a payment agreement. If you're running into trouble paying your heat or electric bill, contact the utility company right way and make arrangements for payment. Doing that, you'll be protected by the Cold Weather Rule.
You can also try applying for help through the Low-Income energy Assistance Program. Households with an income of less than 50 percent of the state's median income ($40,738 for a family of four) are eligible for assistance through the program. Grant awards, averaging $500 per family, are determined based on a household's size, income, fuel type and energy usage. Check out http://www.energy.mn.gov and click on "Heating Assistance" or call 1-800-657-3710.