ENERGY ASSISTANCE

Minnesota’s Cold Weather Rule 216B.097

The Cold Weather Rule states that a cooperative electric association must not disconnect and must reconnect the utility service of a residential customer during the period between October 1 and April 30, if the disconnection affects the primary heat source for the residential unit and all of the following conditions are met:

A customer enters into and makes timely payments under a payment agreement that considers the financial resources of the household.
The household income of the customer is at or below 50 percent of the state median household income.
- The utility may verify income on forms it provides or obtain verification of income from the local energy assistance provider. A customer is deemed to meet the income requirements of this clause if the customer receives any form of public assistance, including energy assistance that uses an income eligibility threshold set at or below 50 percent of the state median household income.