5.2. ERMUSR 05-14-2013 - Laserfiche WebLink

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1 MINNESOTA STATUTES 2012 216B.097 21611097 COLD WEATHER RULE; COOPERATIVE OR MUNICIPAL UTILITY. Subdivision I. Application; notice to residential customer. (a) A municipal utility or a cooperative electric association must not disconnect and must reconnect the utility service of a residential customer during the period between October 15 and April 15 if the disconnection affects the primary heat source for the residential unit and all of the following conditions are met: (I) The household income of the customer is at or below 50 percent of the state median household income. A municipal utility or cooperative electric association utility may (i) verify income on forms it provides or(ii) obtain verification of income from the local energy assistance provider. A customer is deemed to meet the income requirements of this clause if the customer receives any form of public assistance, including energy assistance,that uses an income eligibility threshold set at or below 50 percent of the state median household income. (2) A customer enters into and makes reasonably timely payments under a payment agreement that considers the financial resources of the household. (3)A customer receives referrals to energy assistance, weatherization, conservation, or other programs likely to reduce the customer's energy bills. (b) A municipal utility or a cooperative electric association must, between August 15 and October 15 each year, notify all residential customers of the provisions of this section. Subd. 2. Notice to residential customer facing disconnection. Before disconnecting service to a residential customer during the period between October 15 and April 15, a municipal utility or cooperative electric association must provide the following information to a customer: (1) a notice of proposed disconnection; (2) a statement explaining the customer's rights and responsibilities; (3) a list of local energy assistance providers; (4) forms on which to declare inability to pay; and (5) a statement explaining available time payment plans and other opportunities to secure continued utility service. Subd. 3. Restrictions if disconnection necessary. (a) If a residential customer must be involuntarily disconnected between October 15 and April 15 for failure to comply with subdivision 1, the disconnection must not occur: (1) on a Friday, unless the customer declines to enter into a payment agreement offered that day in person or via personal contact by telephone by a municipal utility or cooperative electric association; (2) on a weekend, holiday, or the day before a holiday; (3) when utility offices are closed; or (4) after the close of business on a day when disconnection is permitted, unless a field representative of a municipal utility or cooperative electric association who is authorized to enter into a payment agreement, accept payment, and continue service, offers a payment agreement to the customer. Copyright©2012 by the Office of the Revisor of Statutes,State of Minnesota.All Rights Reserved.