Minnesota Cold Weather Rule

Minnesota’s Cold Weather Rule is in effect from October 15 through April 15 each year. The Cold Weather Rule protects residential utility customers from having their heat shut off, if they make and keep an affordable payment plan with their utility.  The Cold Weather Rule applies to homeowners and renters who pay their own heat.

Contrary to popular belief, the Cold Weather Rule is NOT a moratorium on utility disconnections.  In order to keep their heat on, or to reconnect their heat, customers must contact their electric and/or natural gas company to make and keep a payment plan. 

The Public Utilities Commission (PUC) asks your help to make information about the Cold Weather Rule available to your staff and clients. One option is to add a link on your website to http://www.puc.state.mn.us/PUC/consumers/shut-off-protection/index.html.  Another option is to use the brief text the PUC has prepared for you to drop into a newsletter:  http://www.puc.state.mn.us/PUC/consumers/013540.

For additional information about the Cold Weather Rule, please contact the Public Utilities Commission at consumer.puc@state.mn.us, 651-296-0406, or 1-800 657-3782.