Minneapolis Cold Weather Rule 2026–27: How to Keep Your Heat On (or Get It Back)
Updated: 4 days ago
Minnesota's Cold Weather Rule runs from October 1, 2026 through April 30, 2027. It protects residential gas and electric customers from being shut off over the winter. But the protection isn't automatic. You have to call your utility, set up a payment plan, and keep it.
That last part trips people up. A lot of households think "it's winter, they can't shut me off." That's not how it works in Minnesota. The rule protects people who make and keep a plan.
This guide is organized by situation. Find the one that matches yours and start there.
Last reviewed: October 2026. How we research and correct guides like this one is explained in our Editorial Standards.
The Rule in Plain Words
Dates: October 1 through April 30.
What it covers: residential natural gas and electric service.
What it doesn't cover: delivered fuels like fuel oil, propane, or wood. The PUC says propane customers should call their provider directly about payment options.
What you must do: contact the utility and agree to a payment plan, then make reasonably timely payments.
What the utility must do: offer a plan that's reasonable for your household's finances, and turn your heat back on once you make and keep a plan.
The 10% limit. If your household income is at or below 50% of the state median income, state law says the utility can't require you to pay more than 10% of your household income toward current and past heating bills. You can agree to pay more, but you don't have to.
Everyone else can still get a plan. The PUC says all residential customers, regardless of income, may be able to arrange a payment plan to keep service through winter. The 10% cap is just for lower-income households.
Situation 1: You Got a Disconnection Notice
Don't wait for the shutoff date. Call the number on your bill today.
Before a winter disconnection, the PUC says your gas or electric company must give you:
a notice of disconnection,
payment plan options to stop it, and
information on how to appeal if you can't agree on a plan.
What to say on the phone:
"I received a disconnection notice. I want to set up a Cold Weather Rule payment plan. My household income is about $____ a month. I can pay $____ a month. I'm also applying for Energy Assistance."
Write down the date, the rep's name, and the plan terms. Ask them to send the plan in writing or by email.
Common mistake: offering an amount you can't keep just to end the call. If you miss payments, you lose protection. Offer a number you can actually pay every month. If your income is at or below 50% of state median, you can point to the 10% rule.
Situation 2: Your Heat Is Already Off
The rule says a utility must reconnect your heating service once you enter into, and keep up with, a payment agreement.
Call the utility right away. Say: "My service is disconnected. I want a Cold Weather Rule payment plan so you can reconnect me."
Call your Energy Assistance provider the same day. In Hennepin County, Community Action Partnership of Hennepin County (CAP-HC) says that if you've already applied and then get shut off or receive a disconnection notice, you should call 952-930-3541 for help applying for crisis funds.
If you can't agree with the utility, call the PUC Consumer Affairs Office (details below).
If there are kids, older adults, or someone with a medical condition at home, say so on every call. It doesn't change the law, but it helps the person on the phone understand how urgent it is.
Situation 3: You're Behind but Haven't Gotten a Notice Yet
This is the best time to act. You have the most options.
Call the utility now and ask for a Cold Weather Rule plan. The PUC says you can set one up any time during the season.
Apply for Energy Assistance before you're in crisis.
Ask the utility about conservation and weatherization referrals. The PUC says utilities will connect you to Energy Assistance and Weatherization programs.
Situation 4: You Made a Plan but Can't Keep It
Things change. Hours get cut. A car breaks down.
State law says you, or someone you choose, can ask to change the plan if your finances changed or you can't keep up the payments.
Call before you miss a payment. Say: "My income changed. I'm on a Cold Weather Rule plan and I need to modify it." Have your new income numbers ready.
Common mistake: missing a payment and saying nothing. Then the utility can treat the plan as broken. A phone call before the due date protects you.
Situation 5: You Rent and Heat Is in the Landlord's Name
The Cold Weather Rule protects the utility customer — the person whose name is on the account. If your landlord pays the gas and the landlord falls behind, your options are different.
Call the PUC Consumer Affairs Office and explain your setup. You can also contact a tenant legal aid group. Keep copies of your lease showing who's responsible for heat.
Applying for Energy Assistance in Hennepin County
The Energy Assistance Program (EAP) helps pay heating bills. CAP-HC runs it for Hennepin County residents, including Minneapolis.
Season: CAP-HC says it can help with bills from October 1, 2026 to May 31, 2027.
How it pays: If you're eligible, the grant is paid directly to your utility.
Phone: 952-930-3541
Email: eap@caphennepin.org
Fax: 952-697-1313
Mail or drop off: CAP-HC Energy Assistance Program, 1101 East 78th Street, Suite 110, Bloomington, MN 55420
Online: through the Minnesota Department of Commerce application (linked from CAP-HC's site).
Not in Hennepin County? Call the state line at 1-800-657-3710 to find your local provider. St. Paul is in Ramsey County, which has a different provider.
Households of 9 or more people: CAP-HC asks you to call for income guidelines.
What to Gather Before You Apply
The application asks about everyone living in the home. Under the state's rules, everyone who shares the kitchen or other living areas counts as a household member.
Pull these together first:
Proof of income for every adult in the home. The application lists types like Social Security, SSI, pensions, MFIP, and General Assistance.
Your most recent heating and electric bills, with account numbers.
Your disconnection notice, if you have one.
ID and Social Security numbers, as the form requests.
If you have no income, CAP-HC's form says to call them.
Common mistake: sending a half-finished application. The state says your provider must have a complete application to decide if you qualify. Missing pages mean delays. Double-check every page before you submit.
What Happens After You Apply
Your local provider reviews it and contacts you if they need more. Then you get a letter saying whether you qualify. If you're denied, the state says the letter will tell you why and how to reapply or appeal.
If You and the Utility Can't Agree
Call the Minnesota PUC Consumer Affairs Office. Staff can answer Cold Weather Rule questions and help you work with your utility.
Phone: 651-296-0406 or 800-657-3782
Email: consumer.puc@state.mn.us
Web: mn.gov/puc/cwr
Hours: Monday through Friday.
Before you call, have ready: your account number, the notice, the amount the utility asked for, the amount you offered, and the date of each call.
Municipal Utilities and Co-ops
If your electric comes from a city-owned utility or a cooperative, a separate law, Minnesota Statutes 216B.097, applies.
Under that law, a municipal utility or co-op can't disconnect, and must reconnect, your primary heat source between October 1 and April 30 if you meet conditions that include:
household income at or below 50% of state median, and
a payment agreement you keep up with.
The law also says a customer counts as meeting the income test if they get public assistance, including energy assistance, that uses an income limit at or below 50% of state median. So getting approved for EAP can help you prove eligibility.
What Happens on May 1
The Cold Weather Rule plan ends when the season ends, unless you and the utility agree to a longer plan. Don't let the spring catch you by surprise.
In March, call the utility and ask what happens to your balance after April 30.
Ask for a longer plan if you're still behind.
Use Energy Assistance funds — CAP-HC's season runs through May 31, 2027.
Quick Checklist
Call the utility. Ask for a Cold Weather Rule plan.
Offer an amount you can keep paying.
Apply for Energy Assistance (952-930-3541 in Hennepin).
Keep every payment. Call before you miss one.
Call the PUC if you can't agree on a plan.
Plan for May before April ends.
FAQ
Can my utility shut me off in January if I just don't pay? Yes, if you haven't set up and kept a payment plan. The protection depends on the plan.
Do I have to be low-income to get a Cold Weather Rule plan? No. All residential customers may be able to set up a plan. The 10%-of-income cap applies only if your household income is at or below 50% of state median income.
Does the rule cover propane? No. It covers natural gas and electric service. The PUC says propane customers should contact their providers about payment options.
Does Energy Assistance count as income? No. Under state law, household income for the Cold Weather Rule doesn't include energy assistance.
I live in Minneapolis but my mail goes to a different county address. Who do I call? Your EAP provider is based on where you live. For Hennepin County, it's CAP-HC. If you're unsure, call 1-800-657-3710.
Can someone else call the utility for me? State law allows the customer or a designated third party to ask for a plan change. Tell the utility in advance who's allowed to speak for you.
Related Guides
Sources
Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, Shut-Off Protection: https://mn.gov/puc/consumers/shut-off-protection/
Minnesota PUC news release, Cold Weather Rule protections start October 1: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/MNPUBUC/bulletins/3f53744
Minnesota Statutes 216B.096: https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/216B.096/
Minnesota Statutes 216B.097: https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/216b.097
Community Action Partnership of Hennepin County, Energy Assistance: https://caphennepin.org/energy-assistance/
Minnesota Energy Programs Application 2026–27: https://mn.gov/commerce-stat/pdfs/eap-application-english-fillable.pdf
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