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RELEVANT LINKS: League of Minnesota Cities Information Memo: 6/22/2016 Securing Payment of Utility Charges Page 28 Minn. Stat. § 216B.097. MMUA Cold Weather Rule (CWR) Guide. The cold weather rule certainly applies to municipal gas and electric utilities. From Oct. 15, to April 15, the rule requires that a municipal gas or electric utility reconnect and refrain from disconnecting a residential unit (or even limiting electrical supply with a load limiter) during cold weather months if the disconnection affects the primary heat source and if the following conditions are met: Minn. Stat. § 216B.097, subd. 1(2). • The customer has declared inability to pay on forms provided by the utility. For the purposes of this clause, a customer receiving energy assistance is deemed to have demonstrated an inability to pay. • The household income of the customer is at or below 50 percent of the state median income. • Verification of income may be conducted 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. • A customer who enters into a payment schedule that considers the financial resources of the household and is reasonably current with payments under the agreement. (A requirement that customers be current with bills prior to Oct. 15 to qualify for protection from disconnection under the rule was removed from the law). • The customer receives referrals to energy assistance programs, weatherization, conservation, or other programs likely to reduce the customer’s energy bills. MMUA Sample Annual Notice to Residential Customers. Between Aug. 15 and Oct.15 of each year, a municipal gas or electric utility must notify all residential customers of the provisions of the rule. Before disconnecting service to a residential customer during the period between Oct. 15 and April 15, the rule requires a municipal gas or electric utility to provide the following information to a customer: MMUA Sample Notice of Proposed Winter Disconnection during Cold Weather Rule period. • Notice of proposed disconnection must be mailed to the customer 20 days before actually disconnecting the service—or 15 days if the notice is personally delivered to the customer. • A statement explaining the customer’s rights and responsibilities. MMUA Sample Third-Party Notification Form. Use this form plus a list of energy assistance providers in your area. • A list of local energy assistance providers. MMUA Sample Application for Winter Disconnect Protection under the Cold Weather Rule. • Forms on which to declare inability to pay.