Energy Assistance Providers

Bi-Cap
Beltrami & Cass Counties
218-751-4631
 

Mahube
Hubbard County
218-732-7204
 

Leech Lake Energy Assistance
218-335-3783

Red Lake Energy Assistance
218-679-3336
 

The following is Section 216B.097 of the Minnesota statutes pertaining to cold weather utility disconnection. The 2003 Legislature enacted an amendment to this statute stating, "for the purpose of this section, 'disconnection' includes a service or load limiter or any device that limits or interrupts electric service in any way."

Beltrami Electric uses power limiters in lieu of disconnecting the electrical service during the Cold Weather Law period. The cooperative's credit policy #209 deals with the use of power limiters by the cooperative. Should a power limiter be installed, the normal reconnection fees apply to have the power limiter removed during and after business hours.

Subdivision 1. Application; notice to residential customer.

(a) A municipal utility or a cooperative electric association must not disconnect and must reconnect the utility service of a residential customer during the period between Oct. 15 and April 15 if the disconnection affects the primary heat source for the residential unit and all the following conditions are met:

(2) A customer enters into and makes reasonably timely payments under a payment
agreement that considers the financial resources of the household.

(3) A customer receives referrals to energy assistance, weatherization, conservation, or other programs likely to reduce the customer's energy bills.

(4) a customer whose account is current for the billing period immediately prior to Oct. 15 or who, at any time, enters into a payment schedule that considers the financial resources of the household and is reasonably current with payments under the schedule; and

(5) the customer receives referrals to energy assistance programs, weatherization, conservation, or other programs likely to reduce the customer’s energy bills.

(b) A municipal utility or a cooperative electric association must, between August 15 and October 15 each year, notify all residential customers of the provisions of this section.

Subdivision 2. Notice to residential customer facing disconnection. 

Before disconnecting service to a residential customer during the period between Oct. 15 and April 15, a municipal utility or cooperative electric association must provide the following information to a customer:

(1) a notice of proposed disconnection;

(2) a statement explaining the customer’s rights and responsibilities;

(3) a list of local energy assistance providers;

(4) forms on which to apply for shut-off protection, which can include verification of income if needed; 

(5) a statement explaining available time payment plans and other opportunities to secure continued utility service.

Subdivision 3. Restrictions if disconnection necessary. 

(a) If a residential customer must be involuntarily disconnected between Oct. 15 and April 15 for failure to comply with Subdivision 1, the disconnection must not occur:

(1)   on a Friday , unless the customer declines to enter into a payment agreement offered that day in person or via personal contact by telephone by a municipal utility or cooperative electric association;

(2)    on a weekend, holiday, or the day before a holiday;

(3)   when utility offices are closed;

(4)   after the close of business on a day when disconnection is permitted, unless a field representative of a municipal utility or cooperative electric association who is authorized to enter into a payment agreement, accept payment, and continue service, offers a payment agreement to the customer.

Further, the disconnection must not occur until at least 20 days after the notice required in subdivision 2 has been mailed to the customer or 15 days after the notice has been personally delivered to the customer.

(b)  If a customer does not respond to a disconnection notice, the customer must not be disconnected until the utility investigates whether the residential unit is actually occupied. If the unit is found to be occupied, the utility must immediately inform the occupant of the provisions of this section. If the unit is unoccupied, the utility must give seven days’ written notice of the proposed disconnection to the local energy assistance provider before making a disconnection.

(c) If, prior to disconnection, a customer appeals a notice of involuntary disconnection, as provided by the utility’s established appeal procedure, the utility must not disconnect until the appeal is resolved.

Subd. 4. Application to service limiters.

For the purposes of this section, “disconnection” includes a service or load limiter or any device that limits or interrupts electric service in any way.

 If electric disconnection occurring between Oct. 15 and April 15 would affect your primary heat source and you are unable to pay your electric bill, please contact Beltrami Electric Cooperative credit manager Dan Dow at 444-2540 or 800-955-6083.

Several agencies provide financial assistance to qualifying households. We urge you to check with them for details on available programs. To avoid electric service disconnection, arrangements for bill payment need to be made before the line crew is sent to collect. Do not disregard your bill. It is your responsibility. If you have financial difficulties, please contact the cooperative’s credit manager to discuss payment arrangements. The cooperative now offers the 10 percent repayment plan for members who are unable to make other arrangements.