|
News Releases
10/09/2003
Minnesota's Cold Weather Rule takes effect Wednesday
MINNEAPOLIS - Xcel Energy reminds its Minnesota residential customers who may have trouble paying energy bills that beginning next Wednesday the Cold Weather Rule will be in place to help protect them from service disconnection during the winter - as long as they take a few simple steps to ensure that protection.
Under the rule, which was developed by the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, residential energy customers are protected from service disconnection from Oct. 15 through April 15, provided the disconnection would affect the customer’s primary heating source. The customer also must
- Qualify for an inability-to-pay plan, or
- Qualify for a 10-percent payment plan, or
- Mutually agree to a payment schedule.
To avoid disconnection, customers who receive a notice of proposed disconnection must promptly file a Cold Weather Rule Plan form or make arrangements to pay the balance.
Under a change in state law this year, all households certified to receive energy assistance automatically will be provided Cold Weather Rule protection.
Xcel Energy residential customers in Minnesota recently received detailed information about the Cold Weather Rule with their energy bills. For more information, customers can call Xcel Energy’s 24-hour residential customer service line at 1-800-895-4999.
|
