We can work things out

Each year a few of our customers are unable to pay their electric bill during cold weather. If you can't pay your electric bill, please call us. We will work with you to make acceptable payment arrangements. We want to be helpful, but we can't unless you contact us.

Disconnections in cold weatherThis notice is simply to tell you about the Minnesota Cold Weather Rule and to advise you that you must act promptly, following a notice of proposed disconnection, if you intend to exercise your Cold Weather Rule rights. Minnesota Power operates under rules set by the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (MPUC). The Commission says no one in Minnesota who needs electricity for heating a residence can have their electricity shut off for not paying a bill between Oct. 15 and April 15 as long as they do one of three things:

1. Show they are unable to pay and make payment arrangements over time.
2. Agree to a 10 Percent Payment Plan (if they qualify).
3. Work out another type of payment plan that is acceptable to both the customer and Minnesota Power.

Making your choice

If you receive a disconnection notice, we will include some other items. The first is a form for you to fill out. It asks for information about your income and your bill. It also asks you to choose the way you want Minnesota Power to consider your situation: Inability to Pay, 10 Percent Plan or another type of payment plan. You must fill out the form and return it to Minnesota Power within 10 days. If you don't, the rules will no longer protect you from being disconnected.

Inability to pay

If you check Inability to Pay on the form, you will not be disconnected as long as you call and make arrangements to pay your bill over time and adhere to the arrangements we agree upon. You must call within seven days after you return the form.

The MPUC determines whether you qualify for Inability to Pay. If Minnesota Power believes the person making the claim actually is able to pay, it can appeal the claim to the MPUC. The Commission can require that person to present evidence that he or she is unable to pay the bill. The Commission makes its decision within 30 days. During that 30 days, the person's service cannot be disconnected.

If the Commission decides the person is unable to pay the bill, Minnesota Power will not disconnect service as long as the person makes and adheres to a payment schedule.

10 Percent Plan

If you choose the 10 Percent Plan, it means you will pay at least 10 percent of your monthly income toward the payment of your current bill, not including arrears. If your bill for the month comes to less than 10 percent of your monthly income, and you pay your full bill for that month, you will not be disconnected.

If you also receive heating "energy" from another utility, such as the gas company, Minnesota Power will split your payment with that other utility. Whichever utility provides most of your energy during the winter would get 70 percent of your payment, and all others would divide the other 30 percent equally.

The rules for determining whether you qualify for the 10 Percent Plan are different from those for Inability to Pay, so if you don't qualify for one, you might for the other. You must call Minnesota Power to set up a 10 Percent Plan within seven days after you return the form.

If you receive a disconnection notice, we also include a list of places you can go for help— social service agencies that might be able to assist you with paying your bill. We will also include an explanation of what are your rights and responsibilities.

Making Payment Arrangements

You don't have to claim or prove that you are unable to pay the bill in order to set up a payment schedule. Any arrangements you make to pay off your bill needs to be acceptable to both you and Minnesota power. Working together, we can set up a payment schedule. It covers what you already owe, plus electricity you're expected to use. The payment schedule doesn't have to require the same amount each month.

Some people insist on payment schedules that are not acceptable to Minnesota power. In those cases, Minnesota power is allowed to disconnect service. However, before that is done, the customer has the right to appeal to the MPUC. The Commission then decides on a payment schedule within 30 days. During that 30 days, Minnesota Power would not disconnect service.

If you can't make the payments on the payment schedule, you must call us and ask that the schedule be changed. If we can't agree to the change, you can appeal to the MPUC.

Third Party Notice

If you want us to let someone else know —as well as notifying you— that you are in danger of having your service disconnected for not paying your bill, we can provide this service. This third party can be any person or organization you choose: a friend, relative, church or community agency. If this person or group receives the notice, he or they could contact Minnesota Power and confirm that you are unable to pay the bill. He or they could also arrange a payment schedule, if you want them to. The third party would not be expected or required to pay the bill.

This Third Party Notice is especially helpful to those who are ill, elderly or live alone. If you would like to have this service, call Minnesota Power at 1-800-228-4966 (Minnesota only) and request the necessary form. Minnesota Power will make every effort to send a copy of the Notice of Proposed Disconnection to the party specified. Minnesota Power assumes no liability for failure of the third party to receive or act upon the notice.