The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission Cold Weather Rule protects residential customers who will have difficulty paying their heating bills from October 15 through April 15 from having their service turned off. The Cold Weather Rule impacts all utility customers, of the Grand Marais Public Utilities Commission (PUC) and Arrowhead Electric Cooperative (AEC).
Cold weather rule notices will be included in upcoming utility bills. Customers who qualify for Cold Weather Rule protection must agree to pay 10 percent of their monthly income to avoid disconnection. This 10 percent must be prorated between energy providers. If a customer uses propane or fuel oil, the city or electric cooperative would only receive 30 percent of the 10 percent.
Customers who have demonstrated an inability to pay on forms provided and who make reasonable payments cannot be disconnected. Also, all payment agreements must consider a customer’s financial circumstance and any extenuating circumstances of the household.
If a Grand Marais PUC customer wishes to be considered for the program, they should contact Grand Marais City Hall and present information to PUC Secretary Jan Smith to set up monthly payments for the winter months. If you are in some doubt about whether you qualify, please call the city at 218- 387-1848 and ask for Smith.
Arrowhead Electric Cooperative customers who might not be able to pay their full electric bill are encouraged to make a payment arrangement with Arrowhead and stay current with their payments. To set up a payment plan, contact Arrowhead Cooperative at (800) 864-3744 before the due date of your bill.
“If you are income eligible, you must also apply for AEOA Assistance,” said Sandy Petty, employee of AEC.
And said Petty, “There is no guarantee how much money AEOA has, so if you think you need assistance, the sooner the better,” Petty said.
Under the state’s 2014-2015 guideline, a family of four making $44,912 or less would qualify for the 10 percent of income payment plan.
For further assistance contact:
. Energy Assistance Hotline 800-657-3710
. Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency (AEOA) 800-662-5711
. Salvation Army Heatshare 800-824-7279
Any customer who receives energy assistance, state or federal financial assistance, medical aid, food stamps, a pension, unemployment, shows proof of recent job loss, having income less than 50 percent of the median state level, or other proof supporting inability to pay cannot be disconnected.
If a customer doesn’t apply for disconnect protection by October 15 and cannot meet his or her payments, they will receive another form in the mail and be given 20 working days to respond. If there is no follow through or response from the customer, a shut-off notice will be given, with three additional days before the electricity is shut off.
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