Under the Missouri Public Service Commission’s Cold Weather Rule utility companies must notify customers of pending cutoffs, make customers aware of financial assistance available through Community Action Agencies and other local organizations, offer payment agreements to ease the burden of high winter utility bills and reconnect customers’ utility service in certain circumstances. The Rule also allows low-income elderly and disabled persons to register with their utility for special notification prior to a utility cutoff. The Cold Weather Rule is in effect from November 1 to March 31.

Companies Bound by PSC Rule:

The following companies must comply with the rule:

AmerenUE;

Atmos Energy Corporation;

Aquila Networks;

Citizens Electric Corp.;

Empire District Electric Co.;

Fidelity Natural Gas, Inc.;

Kansas City Power and Light Co.;

Laclede Gas Co.;

Missouri Gas Energy; and,

Southern Missouri Gas Co., L.C.

Electric cooperatives, municipal utilities and LP gas companies are not bound by the Rule but may voluntarily cooperate.

Highlights of the Cold Weather Rule:

• The Cold Weather Rule prohibits a utility bound by the Rule from cutting off gas or electric service in the following circumstances:

• On any day when the National Weather Service’s 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. local forecast for the following 24 hours predicts that the temperature will drop below 32 degrees Fahrenheit; or,

• on any day when the utility personnel will not be available the immediately succeeding day(s) to reconnect service and the National Weather Service’s 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. local forecast predicts temperatures will drop below 32 degrees F. For example, a utility closed for the weekend cannot cut off service on a Friday even if the Saturday forecast is for warm temperatures but Sunday’s forecast calls for temperatures below 32 degrees F.

• Utility companies must provide advance notice to customers before cutting off service. (There are additional notification requirements for registered elderly and disabled – see below);

• Utility companies must offer level payment plans designed to ease the burden of high winter heating bills. Normally, a 12 month budget plan is devised in which some of the excessive burden of winter bills is deferred to milder seasons;

• Customers disconnected can be reconnected when they express an inability to pay their bills in full, comply with the utility company’s request for household income

information and make an initial payment and agree to further payments under a level payment agreement.

• There are special protections for low income registered elderly or disabled:

• Individuals 65 or older or disabled whose household income is less than 150 percent of the federal poverty level ($14,700 for a household of one person) may register with their local utility for prior notification of pending utility cutoffs.

• The completed registration form provides a 3 rd party contact, such as a parish representative, that the utility company is to contact before disconnecting utility service. (The registration form accompanies this mailing).

A utility company subject to the Cold Weather Rule may not disconnect service for registered low-income customers who make consistent minimum payments during the cold weather period, as follows,

1) 50% of the actual billed usage for the month; or,

2) the amount agreed to by the customer in their levelized payment agreement with the utility.

Parish Action Steps:

Parish social concerns committees or other parish or community groups can play an important role in regards to the PSC Cold Weather Rule.

• Find out if your local utility company is bound by the PSC Cold Weather Rule or if it will voluntarily cooperate in aspects of the Rule, for example, offer level payment agreements to customers;

• Identify elderly and disabled customers and help them register with their local utility. (See accompanying registration form).

• If the local utility offers level payment agreements, use the following for a pulpit announcement or Sunday Bulletin insert:

  (Name of company) offers help with winter heating bills. If you are having financial difficulties in paying your winter heating bills, you may qualify for a special level payment agreement with (name of utility company). Level payment agreements are designed to ease the burden of high winter utility bills so bills are more equal throughout the calendar year. For more information contact (name of utility company and contact information).

• Upon request, assist customers in negotiations with utility companies concerning the terms of level payment agreements;

• Help customers apply at the local Community Action Agency for federal financial assistance with winter heating bills provided through the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program - LIHEAP. For more on LIHEAP visit the Department of Social Services web-site at www.dss.mo.gov/fsd/liheap.htm.

• If utility service is turned off, help the person find warm shelter. Seek to have service restored.

Also see:

The Missouri Catholic Conference has prepared a series of Government Programs Reporters (GPR) on various aspects of the PSC Cold Weather Rule. Enclosed with this GPR you will find the following:

PSC Cold Weather Rule: Utility Cutoffs and Registration

PSC Cold Weather Rule: Payment Agreement

PSC Cold Weather Rule: Reconnection

For Registration Form Click Here (PDF File)