3.1.E. ERMUSR 02-15-2011 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Elk River Municipal Utilities Cold Weather Rule Policy 1. Policy. It is the policy of Elk River Municipal Utilities (ERMU) to comply with the State of Minnesota "Cold Weather Rule", as set forth in Minnesota Statutes, Section 21613.097, as amended. 2. Annlicability. The ERMU Cold Weather Rule Policy (the "Policy") shall apply to all ERMU residential electric customers who meet the criteria set forth in Minnesota Statutes Section 21613.097. The Policy shall apply only to those ERMU residential water customers who meet the criteria of Section 21613.097 and for whom water service affects the primary heat source for the residential unit. 3. Annual Notice to Customers. ERMU will notify all ERMU customers, between August 15 and October 15 of each year, of the provisions of the Cold Weather Rule and the ERMU Cold Weather Rule Policy. 4. Restrictions on Disconnection. During the period between October 15 and April 15 of each year, ERMU residential customers to whom the Cold Weather Rule policy is applicable, as provided above, will not be disconnected and, if disconnected on October 15, will be reconnected, provided all of the following conditions are met: a) The customer has submitted a written statement of inability to pay the full amounts due for utility services; b) Household income at the customer address is at or below 50% of the state median household income. i) If income verification is necessary, ERMU may obtain income verification from the local energy assistance provider or require that the customer verify income on forms provided by ERMU. ii) Income verification will not be required if the customer receives any form of public assistance, including energy assistance, that uses as an income eligibility threshold set at or below 50% of the state median household income. c) The customer enters into a payment agreement that considers the financial resources of the household. i) Payments due under a payment agreement shall be no less than ten percent of the household monthly income. ii) ERMU may require payments in excess of ten percent of the household monthly income if such a payment amount is reasonable considering the financial resources of the household. iii) ERMU may agree, in its discretion, to payments of less than ten percent of the household monthly income only if the customer has submitted such information as ERMU shall require regarding the financial resources of the household and ERMU makes a finding that a lesser payment is justified given the financial resources of the household.