As a utility customer in the State of Minnesota, you are entitled to legal protections to you help you afford your bill and avoid disconnection.
You have a right to a budget payment plan
If you are struggling to afford your utility bill, call your utility. They are bound by law to provide you with a monthly bill that you can afford. To be clear, this is a negotiation. When you call in, tell them a payment level that you can afford and stick with it, even if they press you to accept a higher amount.
You have a right to a Cold Weather Rule Payment Plan
Between October 1 and April 30, your utility cannot disconnect you if you call them and negotiate an affordable payment plan. While the specific monthly amount is up to you and your utility, if you are low-income, the utility cannot ask for more than 10% of your income. Even if you are not low-income but are struggling with your bill, you still have the right to ask for some financial relief during the coldest months of the year.
Extreme heat disconnection prevention
Your utility cannot disconnect you when an extreme heat advisory is in effect. If you are an Xcel Energy customer, they must reconnect you if there is either a heat advisory or air quality incident (AQI) in effect.
For more information about any of the information above, call our office at 651-774-9010 or email us at ecc@energycents.org.