JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Missouri Public Service Commission’s Cold Weather Rule took effect Sunday, Nov.1. The rule, designed to help consumers with heat-related utility bills, will remain in effect through March 31, 2010.
The Cold Weather Rule applies to natural gas and electric utilities that provide heat to consumers. Municipally-operated systems, co-operatives, and those that provide propane delivered by truck are not under Public Service Commission jurisdiction. Hence, the rule does not apply to them.
The Cold Weather Rule:
- Prohibits the disconnection of heat service when the temperature is predicted to drop below 32 degrees during the following 24-hour period.
- Provides more lenient terms permitting re-connection of service for natural gas customers. A customer can have service restored by making an initial payment of 50% of his or her outstanding balance, or $500, whichever is less. The deferred balance of the utility bill is to be paid in an agreement plan. A natural gas utility won’t be required to offer more lenient payment terms to keep service on, or to reconnect a customer more than once every two years or when a customer has defaulted on a “Cold Weather Rule” payment plan three or more times.
- Prohibits the disconnection of registered elderly and disabled customers who meet certain income guidelines and who make a minimum payment.
- Allows a customer to register with the utility if: 65 years of age or older, disabled to the extent that the customer has filed with the utility a physician’s statement that the household must have natural gas or electric service provided in order to maintain life or health, or the customer has a formal award letter issued by the federal government about disability benefits.
- Allows customers to budget payments over 12 months.
- Allows customers to extend payment of pre-existing arrears beyond 12 months.
- Does not require a deposit if payment agreement is met.
- Requires that customers be notified by mail 10 days before the date the utility plans to shut off service; that an attempt be made to contact the customer within 96 hours before the shut off; that an attempt also be made to contact the customer right before the shut off; and that notice is left at the house when service is shut off.
- Requires the customer be notified of possible financial help in paying the utility bill.
- Allows for the reconnection of service for less than the full amount owed.
If a customer has a heat utility bill that they cannot pay in full, it is important that the customer: Contact the utility company, state an inability to pay the bill in full, provide income information, make a minimum payment, and enter into a payment agreement.
It is important to note that in order to receive some of the benefits of the Cold Weather Rule, a customer must sign up (register) with the utility providing their heat.
For more information on the PSC’s Cold Weather Rule, go to the website at www.psc.mo.gov , or call the Consumer Services Hotline at 1-800-392-4211. Consumers can also receive Cold Weather Rule information from their natural gas or electric company.
