From Sen. Scott Dibble’s office:
Minnesota Department of Commerce Commissioner Steve Kelley and Commissioner Katie Sieben of the Public Utilities Commission sent a letter requesting minimum actions by all Minnesota utility companies late last week. The requests included extending Minnesota’s Cold Weather Rule for the duration of the peacetime emergency, which restricts the disconnection of residential customers for non-payment of utility bills, waiving late fees for residential and small business customers, and arranging payment plans with individual customers based on financial circumstances. You can find the response to these requests from your utility providers at the Citizens Utility Board website here. Over 100 utilities have voluntarily committed to maintaining heat and power services regardless of consumers’ ability to pay during the COVID-19 emergency.