Cold Weather Protection

The Minnesota Cold Weather Rule

Some customers find it hard to pay their utility bills in the winter. The State of Minnesota set up the Cold Weather Rule to protect residential, heat-affected customers, who are unable to pay their utility bills, from disconnection of service between October 1 and April 30. If this is you, beginning September 1st, you may fill out the current Inability to Pay Application (PDF) to apply for the current year beginning October 1st through the next year until April 30th.

Avoiding Disconnection

The Cold Weather Rule does not forbid winter shut off. If you receive a shut off notice this winter, you must act promptly and call Anoka Municipal Utility (AMU) at 763-576-2750 to apply for Cold Weather Rule protection and set up a payment plan. Your service will be subject to disconnection without further notice if you do not make the agreed upon payments. If you cannot keep your original payment plan, call AMU 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 affect, you can have your power reconnected by completing an Inability to Pay application, and making and keeping a payment arrangement. You must keep your payment plan to avoid future disconnection. Call AMU immediately if you cannot keep your payment plan and make a new payment plan to avoid disconnection.

Payment Agreements

If your household income is:

  • At or below 60% of the state median income, you are not required to pay more than 10% of your monthly household income
  • More than 60% of the state median income, you may make a payment plan with AMU

Most Cold Weather Rule payment plans last until April 30 unless you make other arrangements with AMU. 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 arrangement.

Documents

  1. Inability to Pay Application (PDF)