2006 Minnesota Statutes

216B.095 DISCONNECTION DURING COLD WEATHER.
(a) 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 50 percent of the state
median income;
(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. The customer's income means the actual monthly income of the
customer or the average monthly income of the customer computed on an annual calendar year,
whichever is less, and does not include any amount received for energy assistance;
(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) verification of income by the local energy assistance provider or the utility, unless the
customer is automatically eligible for protection against disconnection 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);
(5) a requirement that the customer receive referrals to energy assistance, weatherization,
conservation, or other programs likely to reduce the customer's energy bills; and
(6) a requirement that customers who have demonstrated an inability to pay on forms
provided for that purpose by the utility, and who make reasonably timely payments to the
utility under a payment plan that considers the financial resources of the household, cannot be
disconnected from utility service from October 15 through April 15. A customer who is receiving
energy assistance is deemed to have demonstrated an inability to pay.
(b) For the purposes of this section, "disconnection" includes a service or load limiter or
any device that limits or interrupts electric service in any way.
History: 1989 c 338 s 1; 1989 c 356 s 59; 2001 c 212 art 4 s 1; 1Sp2003 c 11 art 3 s 1