Winter Disconnection Rules for Electric Customers
During the winter months, there is increased protection for electric customers. Although a customer can still be disconnected if they fail to make payments on their bills, it is more difficult to be disconnected in the winter time. From November 15 to March 31, an electric utility may not disconnect a customer’s service: If the customer does not use electric service for heating and the balance owed for service provided is less than $225; If the customer has electric heat, the utility may not disconnect service if the balance owed for service provided is less than $450. Utilities must seek commission approval before disconnecting the service of residential customers known to be 65 years or older and customers with a known financial hardship. If you think you qualify for financial hardship status as defined below, please contact us for further assistance.
	Section Puc 1204.10: “Financial hardship” means a residential customer has provided the utility with evidence of current enrollment of the customer or the customer’s household in the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, the Electric Assistance Program, the Neighbor Helping Neighbor Program, the Link-Up and Lifeline Telephone Assistance Programs, their successor programs or any other federal, state or local government program or government funded program of any social service agency which provides financial assistance or subsidy assistance for low income households based upon a written determination of household financial eligibility
In addition to the protections described above, no residential customer can be disconnected during the winter period for non-payment of a deposit or portion of a deposit. If you are having difficulty keeping up with your bills during the winter months, please contact us. We can provide agency information and work with you to set up a payment arrangement that suits your budget and protects your service.