1999 Minnesota Statutes

     216B.095 Disconnection during cold weather. 

    The commission shall amend its rules governing 
 disconnection of residential utility customers who are unable to 
 pay for utility service during cold weather to include the 
 following: 

    (1) coverage of customers whose household income is less 
 than 185 percent of the federal poverty level; 

    (2) a requirement that a customer who pays the utility at 
 least ten percent of the customer's income or the full amount of 
 the utility bill, whichever is less, in a cold weather month 
 cannot be disconnected during that month; 

    (3) that the ten percent figure in clause (2) must be 
 prorated between energy providers proportionate to each 
 provider's share of the customer's total energy costs where the 
 customer receives service from more than one provider; 

    (4) that a customer's household income does not include any 
 amount received for energy assistance; 

    (5) verification of income by the local energy assistance 
 provider, unless the customer is automatically eligible as a 
 recipient of any form of public assistance, including energy 
 assistance, that uses income eligibility in an amount at or 
 below the income eligibility in clause (1); and 

    (6) a requirement that the customer receive, from the local 
 energy assistance provider or other entity, budget counseling 
 and referral to weatherization, conservation, or other programs 
 likely to reduce the customer's consumption of energy. 

    For the purpose of clause (2), the "customer's income" 
 means the actual monthly income of the customer except for a 
 customer who is normally employed only on a seasonal basis and 
 whose annual income is over 135 percent of the federal poverty 
 level, in which case the customer's income is the average 
 monthly income of the customer computed on an annual calendar 
 year basis. 

    HIST: 1989 c 338 s 1; 1989 c 356 s 59