Minnesota Cold Weather Rule

Dakota Electric Association® Notification of Rights and Responsibilities

THE MINNESOTA COLD WEATHER RULE

Because some customers may find it hard to pay their utility bills in the winter, the State of Minnesota passed the Cold Weather Rule (CWR) law. CWR protects residential, heat-affected customers from disconnection of service between October 1 and April 30.

AVOIDING DISCONNECTION

If you receive a Shut-Off Notice this winter, call Dakota Electric Association® at 651-463-6212 immediately to apply for Cold Weather Rule protection and set up a payment plan. Your service may be disconnected without further notice if you do not make and keep an agreed upon payment plan. If you cannot keep your original payment plan, call Dakota Electric® immediately and make a new payment plan to avoid disconnection.

RECONNECTION

If your power is disconnected on October 1 when the Cold Weather Rule takes effect, you can have your power reconnected by calling Dakota Electric at 651-463-6212 to set up a payment plan. You must keep your payment plan to avoid disconnection. Call Dakota Electric immediately if you cannot keep your payment plan and to make a new payment plan to avoid disconnection.

PAYMENT AGREEMENTS

If your household income is:

  • At or below 50 percent of the state median income, you are not required to pay more than 10 percent of your monthly household income.
  • More than 50 percent of the state median income, you may make a payment plan with Dakota Electric Association, reasonable for your household’s financial circumstances.

Most Cold Weather Rule payment plans end on April 30 unless you make other arrangements with Dakota Electric. Your service could be shut off if you have a past-due balance on April 30 and do not make and keep a new payment plan.

RIGHT TO APPEAL

If you and Dakota Electric cannot agree on a payment plan, you have a right to request an appeal form and submit the appeal to the Public Utilities Commission within ten business days. The Commission will help you set up a payment plan, and your service will stay on during the appeal process. If you do not agree to a payment plan and do not appeal, your electric service may be disconnected without further notice.

NEED HELP PAYING?

360 Communities
952-985-5300
501 State Highway 13, Suite 112, Burnsville, MN 55337

Dakota County Economic Assistance
651-554-5611
1 Mendota Road W. Suite 100, West St. Paul, MN 55118

Goodhue County Health & Human Services
651-385-3200
426 West Ave., Red Wing, MN 55066

Three Rivers Community Action, Inc.
507-316-0610
1414 North Star Drive, Zumbrota, MN 55992

Rice County Social Services
507-332-6115
320 3rd St. NW, Faribault, MN 55021

Scott County Human Services
952-445-7751
200 4th Ave. W., Shakopee, MN 55379

Scott-Carver-Dakota CAP Agency
651-322-3500
2496 145th St. W., Rosemount, MN 55068

CONSERVATION AND WEATHERIZATION PROVIDERS

The following agencies provide weatherization/ conservation services. Your energy assistance agencies may also offer these services. See the above section, titled, Need Help Paying for contact information.

DAKOTA COUNTY
Dakota County CDA – 651-675-440

Scott-Carver-Dakota CAP Agency – 651-322-3500

GOODHUE COUNTY AND RICE COUNTY
Three Rivers Community Action – 507-732-7391

SCOTT COUNTY
Scott-Carver-Dakota CAP Agency – 952-496-2125

ENERGY SAVING TIPS

  • Manage your thermostat. Try 76 to 78 degrees during the cooling season and 66 to 68 degrees during the heating season.
  • Use fans whenever possible instead of air conditioning, especially ceiling fans for rooms with high ceilings.Turn fans off when you leave the room. Fans cool people, not rooms.
  • Clean or change your furnace filters monthly. Filters are inexpensive and also clean the air you breathe.
  • Lower your water heater thermostat to 120 degrees if possible. If you have a dishwasher, 140 degrees may be needed.
  • Turn off all unused lights and appliances.
  • Vacuum refrigerator and freezer coils annually to improve the unit’s efficiency.
  • Open shades on cold days to let warm sunlight in, and close shades on hot days to prevent the sunlight from heating up the house.
  • Wash clothes in cool water and hang clothes outside to dry when possible.
  • Take shorter showers.
  • Caulk and weather strip cracks around doors and window frames to prevent drafts.
  • Remove or cover window air conditioners during the heating season.
  • Insulate your home adequately.
  • Close the door and heat registers in unused rooms.
  • Do not block radiators or warm air registers with furniture, drapes or other objects.

THIRD PARTY NOTICE

Third Party Notice applies to all customers and is designed to notify the customer and a third party, such as a friend, relative, church or community agency, that a shut-off notice has been sent. The third party can receive and give information about the customer and arrange payment plans with Dakota Electric for the customer. The third party is not responsible for payment.

To submit a request for Third Party Notification, click the button below to complete and submit the form.