Cold Weather Rule Begins Oct 15

SAINT PAUL — As temperatures drop and heating bills rise, the Minnesota Department of Commerce and Minnesota Public Utilities Commission want Minnesotans to know about help that is available from the state’s Cold Weather Rule and Energy Assistance Program.

The Cold Weather Rule protects residential utility customers from having their heat shut off during the winter months. The Energy Assistance Program helps eligible Minnesota homeowners and renters pay for home heating costs.

“The Cold Weather Rule and our Energy Assistance Program are here to help Minnesota families who struggle with home heating costs to get through our cold winters,” said Minnesota Commerce Commissioner Mike Rothman, whose agency includes the state energy office. “We want to make sure Minnesotans are safe and warm in their homes this winter.”

“The Cold Weather Rule is a safeguard for the most vulnerable Minnesotans during our challenging winters,” said Public Utilities Commission Chair Nancy Lange. “It ensures that households in need are safe, warm and healthy. By working out a payment plan with their utility, Minnesota families with financial challenges can still keep their heat on.”

Cold Weather Rule

The Cold Weather Rule takes effect on October 15 and continues through April 15. To prevent heating disconnection under the rule, customers must first contact their utility to establish and maintain a monthly payment plan. All electric and natural gas companies are required to offer this protection.

Under the rule, utility customers who have a combined household income at or below 50 percent of the state median income ($48,077 for a family of four) are not required to pay more than 10 percent of their household income toward current and past heating bills. Others are also eligible to arrange a Cold Weather Rule payment plan.

Minnesotans who need to re-connect their service for the winter should contact their utility now to take advantage of the payment options.

The Cold Weather Rule does not apply to delivered fuels such as fuel oil, propane or wood. But Minnesotans who use these fuels are encouraged to contact the companies serving them to discuss payment options if they are concerned about their ability to pay this winter. For example, a state law requires that propane distributors offer all customers a budget plan.

The Cold Weather Rule is administered by the Public Utilities Commission. More information is available at theCommission website or by calling 651-296-0406 or 800-657-3782.

Energy Assistance Program

Minnesota’s Energy Assistance Program helps homeowners and renters earning at or below 50 percent of the state’s median income ($48,077 for a family of four) pay their heating bills. The average annual payment per household last year was about $520. Households with seniors, people with disabilities, veterans and children are especially encouraged to apply.

Minnesotans who use delivered fuels to heat their homes are eligible for Energy Assistance Program grants even though they are not covered by the Cold Weather Rule.

Applications were recently sent to Minnesotans who qualified for energy assistance last year. Others who may qualify are encouraged to apply by contacting the local service provider in their county by calling 800-657-3710. Information is also available at theCommerce Department’s Energy Assistance Program webpage.

The Minnesota Commerce Department administers the program in partnership with 30 local service providers throughout the state. It is federally funded through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Weatherization Assistance Program

The Commerce Department also administers theWeatherization Assistance Program, which provides energy efficiency improvements to reduce energy costs for needy households that meet income eligibility guidelines. Both homeowners and renters may apply for weatherization assistance.

Other forms of assistance may be available to Minnesotans through county social service programs, community-based organizations and nonprofit agencies.

Cold weather heating assistance and budget protection available to Minnesotans with limited incomes

SAINT PAUL — As the heating season kicks in, the Minnesota Department of Commerce and the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) encourage Minnesotans to contact their utilities now to learn more about the Cold Weather Rule that protects residential utility customers from having their heat shut off during the winter months.

The rule takes effect on October 15 and continues through April 15, 2017.

To prevent heating disconnection, customers must first contact their utility to establish and maintain a monthly payment plan.  All electric and natural gas companies are required to offer Cold Weather Rule protection.

“The Cold Weather Rule and our Energy Assistance Program are here to provide an essential safety net to protect Minnesotans from losing heat during the coldest months of the year,” said Minnesota Commerce Commissioner Mike Rothman. “No Minnesotan should be left out in the cold.”

Under the Cold Weather Rule, customers who have a combined household income at or below 50 percent of the state median income ($47,194 for a family of four) are not required to pay more than 10 percent of their household income toward current and past heating bills. Others are also eligible to arrange a Cold Weather Rule payment plan.

Minnesotans who need to reconnect for winter should contact their utility now to take advantage of the payment options. The Cold Weather Rule is administered by the PUC.

“The Cold Weather Rule is a safeguard for the most vulnerable Minnesotans during our challenging winters,” said PUC Chair Beverly Jones Heydinger. “It ensures that households in need are safe, warm and healthy. By working out a payment plan with their utility, Minnesota families with financial challenges can still keep their heat on.”

Minnesota consumers using delivered fuels such as fuel oil, propane or wood to heat their homes are not covered by the Cold Weather Rule. However, they are encouraged to contact the companies that serve them to discuss payment options if they are concerned about their ability to pay for fuel. For example, a new law requires propane distributors to offer all customers a budget plan.

More information on the Cold Weather Rule is available at the Public Utilities Commission website or by calling 651-296-0406 or 800-657-3782.

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Minnesota’s Energy Assistance Program

In addition to the Cold Weather Rule, Minnesota offers the Energy Assistance Program to help pay home heating costs. The Minnesota Commerce Department administers the program in partnership with 30 local service providers throughout the state. It is federally funded through the Low

Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Minnesota’s Energy Assistance Program helps homeowners and renters earning at or below 50 percent of the state’s median income ($47,194 for a family of four) pay their heating bills.  The average annual payment per household last year was about $500. Households with seniors, people with disabilities, veterans and children are especially encouraged to apply.

Applications were recently sent to households that qualified for energy assistance last year.  Others who may qualify are encouraged to apply by contacting the local service provider in their county by calling 800-657-3710.  Information is also available at the Commerce Department’s Energy Assistance Program webpage.

Minnesota consumers using delivered fuels to heat their homes are eligible for the Energy Assistance Program, even though they are not covered by the Cold Weather Rule.

Weatherization Assistance Program

The Commerce Department also administers the Weatherization Assistance Program, which provides energy efficiency improvements to reduce energy costs for needy households that meet income eligibility guidelines. Both homeowners and renters may apply for weatherization assistance. Call 800-657-3710 for information.

Other forms of help

Other forms of heating assistance may be available through county social service programs, community-based organizations, and nonprofit agencies.

Energy-saving tips

The Commerce Department’s Division of Energy Resources offers energy-saving information that every household can use to help control heating costs. Some basic no-cost and low-cost energy-saving recommendations include:

• Weather strip and caulk windows and doors to keep warm air in and cold air out.
• Cover drafty windows with tightly sealed plastic.
• Open curtains and blinds on south-facing windows to let the sun in during the day to naturally heat your home.
• Seal air leaks to prevent cold air for entering through chimneys, vents, pipes and wires that penetrate walls, ceilings and attics.
• Close your fireplace damper when a fire is not in use to prevent warm air from escaping.
• Maintain your heating system. Have annual furnace or boiler inspections, clean or replace furnace filters regularly, and consider replacing old heating systems with more efficient ENERGY STAR® models.
• Use a programmable thermostat. Set your thermostat to automatically turn down the heat at night and when nobody is home.

More energy-saving tips can be found at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energysaver webpages. For more information on reducing energy use in your home, check out the Commerce Department’s Home Energy Guide.

Commerce is here to help

If you have a question about energy, contact the Minnesota Commerce Department’s Energy Information Center at energy.info@state.mn.usor 800-657-3710.

Local Public Meetings on Sandpiper Pipeline Scheduled

SAINT PAUL, MINN—Staff from the Department of Commerce, the Public Utilities Commission and Enbridge/North Dakota Pipeline Company will be hosting public comment meetings regarding the proposed Sandpiper Pipeline which will run through Northwest Minnesota.

These public meetings will provide Minnesotans an opportunity to learn more about the proposed projects, as well as ask questions and provide input. Comment cards will also be available for people who wish to provide a written statement for public record.

"The Sandpiper Pipeline will help improve the safety of oil transport from North Dakota, as well and bring jobs and property tax revenue to Northwest Minnesota," said Representative Dan Fabian (R-Roseau). "I hope folks will attend one of these meeting and share their input to keep the project moving forward."

"These meetings provide an excellent opportunity for people's voices to be heard regarding the building of Sandpiper Pipeline. Many folks have been frustrated by the politics and process regarding the project, and this will give folks a forum to go on the record and share their thoughts," said Representative Deb Kiel (R-Crookston).

The following local meetings have been scheduled in Crookston and Thief River Falls:

     Wednesday, April 27, 2016, from 6:00 to 9:00 PM

     Crookston Inn and Convention Center, 2200 University Avenue, Crookston, MN 56716

     Thursday, April 28, 2016, from 6:00 to 9:00 PM

     Ralph Engelstad Arena, 525 Brooks Avenue North, Thief River Falls, MN 56701

Stay safe. Call before you dig.

Fergus Falls, MN –As we gear up for spring construction, yard work, and planting, Otter Tail Power Company reminds its customers and neighbors that, before digging, they need to notify utilities that have lines or cables buried in the area.

 

Every digging project—rural or urban, large or small—requires a call to the national 811 One Call center at least 48 hours before any excavation begins. That means calling no later than Wednesday for a weekend project. Dial 811 and you’ll be connected to your state’s One Call center, which will notify the appropriate utility companies. Be prepared to give the location and start time of your project. Professional locators will mark the approximate locations of underground lines with flags and/or paint.

 

The 811 call and the utility locates are free. Digging into a line, on the other hand, can cause injury, and you may incur repair costs and fines. Unsafe digging also can compromise community safety and disconnect people from critical services. Damaging underground utility lines, though unintentional, can cause needless outages to the utilities whose service and convenience you enjoy. In addition to electricity, those services also can include water and sewer, cable TV, telephone, and high-speed Internet.

 

Each state has its own rules and regulations, but all projects that involve digging more than a foot deep require a call to 811. Or you may contact your state’s One Call center:

Minnesota – 800-252-1166 or www.gopherstateonecall.org

North Dakota – 800-795-0555 or www.ndonecall.com

South Dakota – 800-781-7474 or www.sdonecall.com

 

“Utility line depths can vary for a number of reasons, such as erosion, previous digging projects, and uneven surfaces so, even when digging only a few inches, the risk of striking an underground utility line exists,” says Otter Tail Power Company’s Safety Services Manager Eric Hamm. “Always call before you plant trees or shrubs, establish a new garden, begin tiling a field, bury a water line, install that flag pole or mailbox, erect a fence, dig a trench, create a water pond, or dig footings for your new garage, deck, or patio. It’s fast, it’s easy, and it’s the law.”

 

This news release is posted on our web site: https://www.otpco.com/NewsInformation/NewsReleases/Pages/default.aspx.

 

Otter Tail Power Company, a subsidiary of Otter Tail Corporation (NASDAQ Global Select Market: OTTR), is headquartered in Fergus Falls, Minnesota. It provides electricity and energy services to more than a quarter million people in Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota. To learn more about Otter Tail Power Company visit www.otpco.com. To learn more about Otter Tail Corporation visit www.ottertail.com.

Cold Weather Rule Protections End April 15

SAINT PAUL, MN – Although, the sun is shining and Minnesota’s temperatures are the warmest in six months, the Minnesota Department is reminding consumers that chilly evenings and the need for heat remains.  The Cold Weather Rule, administered by the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC), ends on April 15, next Tuesday.   The PUC and the Commerce Department remind consumers to act now by applying for heating assistance.

This winter’s “polar vortex” and relentless subzero temperatures has made an impact on Minnesota households’ energy bills.  Families struggling to make ends meet understood the additional cost to keep homes warm this winter. Many Minnesota utility customers utilize the Cold Weather Rule, and should act now in order to maintain their service.  Most utilities offer bill payment options, including budget plans that help even out the payment amounts over several months and customers should contact their utility company for more information.

To help address the spike in heating costs this winter, the Legislature and Governor Dayton provided an addition $20 million to ensure Minnesotans can stay warm.  Additionally, the eligibility was increased this year to allow for households with incomes less than 60 percent of the state median income to qualify for energy assistance.  This means that the Commerce Department’s Energy Assistance Program (EAP) still has money available and is accepting applications to help low-income customers pay their energy bills.  Minnesotans know that cold spring days may continue, requiring many households to keep their heat running. For families on a tight budget, the need for heat is an additional cost many households will not be able to bear. 

“As Minnesotans know, the heating season can last in to May,” said Commerce Commissioner Mike Rothman. “I encourage families with children, seniors, veterans and people with disabilities to apply for Energy Assistance to make sure that everyone stays warm while we make it through the spring.”

The average grant per household is about $500. Customers with incomes less than 60 percent of the state median income ($52,370 for a family of four) may qualify. Households with seniors, people with disabilities, and children are especially encouraged to apply. People have until the program year ends May 30 to apply, however households are served on a first-come-first-serve basis while funds last.

Households can only be served once per heating season; therefore, households who have already received energy assistance this program year (October 1, 2013 to May 30, 2014) are not eligible for the primary grant but additional crisis benefits may be available for households facing an emergency.

Energy assistance funds go directly to the utility company on behalf eligible households. Households apply for energy assistance through 32 local service providers. Qualifying families must apply for assistance at the local service provider in their area. A list of local service providers and more information about the Minnesota Energy Assistance Program can be found at http://mn.gov/commerce/energy/consumers/Heating-Assistance/ or by calling 1-800-657-3710.

LIHEAP is federally funded through the U.S. Department of Health and Human and administered by the Minnesota Department of Commerce.