Subdivision 1. Restriction on disconnection; payment schedules. (a) A municipal utility, cooperative electric association, or public utility must not disconnect the utility service of a residential customer if a member of the household has been issued orders into active duty, for deployment, or for a permanent change in duty station during the period of active duty, deployment, or change in duty station if such a residential customer:
(1) has a household income below the state median household income or is receiving energy assistance and enters into an agreement with the municipal utility, cooperative electric association, or public utility under which the residential customer pays ten percent of the customer's gross monthly income toward the customer's bill and the residential customer remains reasonably current with those payments; or
(2) has a household income above the state median household income and enters into an agreement with the municipal utility, cooperative electric association, or public utility establishing a reasonable payment schedule that considers the financial resources of the household and the residential customer remains reasonably current with payments under the payment schedule.
(b) For purposes of this subdivision, "household income" means household income measured after the date of the orders specified in paragraph (a).
Subd. 2. Annual notice to all customers; inability to pay forms. (a) A municipal utility, cooperative electric association, or public utility must notify all residential customers annually of the provisions of this section.
(b) A municipal utility, cooperative electric association, or public utility must provide a form to a residential customer to request the protections of this section upon the residential customer's request.
Subd. 3. Application to service limiters. For the purposes of this section, "disconnection" includes a service or load limiter or any device that limits or interrupts electric service in any way.
Subd. 4. Income verification. Verification of income may be conducted by the local energy assistance provider or the municipal utility, cooperative electric association, or public utility unless the customer is automatically eligible for protection against disconnection as a recipient of any form of public assistance, including energy assistance that uses income eligibility in an amount at or below the income eligibility in subdivision 1, paragraph (a), clause (1).
Subd. 5. Appeal process. (a) The municipal utility, cooperative electric association, or public utility shall provide the residential customer with a commission-approved written notice of the right to appeal to the commission or other appropriate governing body when the utility and residential customer are unable to agree on the establishment, reasonableness, or modification of a payment schedule, or on the reasonable timeliness of the payments under a payment schedule, provided for by this section. Any appeal must be made within seven working days after the residential customer's receipt of personally served notice, or within ten working days after the utility has deposited first class mail notice in the United States mail.
(b) The utility shall not disconnect service while a payment schedule is pending appeal, or until any appeal involving payment schedules has been determined by the commission.
Subd. 6. Enforcement. This section may be enforced pursuant to chapter 216B.
2007 c 111 s 1; 2015 c 21 art 1 s 72
Structure Minnesota Statutes
Chapters 324 - 341 — Trade Regulations, Consumer Protection
Chapter 325E — Trade Practices
Section 325E.01 — Delivery Tickets To Accompany Each Fuel Delivery.
Section 325E.02 — Customer Deposits.
Section 325E.021 — Utility Delinquency Charges.
Section 325E.025 — Landlords And Tenants; Utility Bills.
Section 325E.026 — Unauthorized Use Of Utility Meters.
Section 325E.027 — Discrimination Prohibition.
Section 325E.028 — Utility Payment Arrangements For Military Service Personnel.
Section 325E.03 — Sale Of Beverage Containers Having Detachable Parts.
Section 325E.031 — Immigration Services.
Section 325E.04 — Free Samples; Distribution.
Section 325E.041 — Sensory Testing Research.
Section 325E.042 — Prohibiting Sale Of Certain Plastics.
Section 325E.044 — Plastic Container Labeling.
Section 325E.046 — Standards For Labeling Plastic Bags.
Section 325E.05 — Agricultural Implement Dealerships; Return Of Stock.
Section 325E.061 — Definitions.
Section 325E.062 — Terminations Or Cancellations.
Section 325E.063 — Violations.
Section 325E.0631 — Warranties.
Section 325E.064 — Status Of Inconsistent Agreements.
Section 325E.067 — Applicability.
Section 325E.068 — Definitions.
Section 325E.0681 — Terminations Or Cancellations.
Section 325E.0682 — Violations.
Section 325E.0683 — Status Of Inconsistent Agreements.
Section 325E.07 — Cigarette Vending Machines, Notice Relating To Sales.
Section 325E.08 — Service For Disabled Persons At Gasoline Stations.
Section 325E.085 — Motor Vehicle Fuel Payment.
Section 325E.095 — Computation Of Sales By Small Retailers.
Section 325E.0951 — Motor Vehicle Air Pollution Control Systems.
Section 325E.0952 — Mandatory Air Bag Replacement.
Section 325E.10 — Definitions.
Section 325E.11 — Collection Facilities; Notice.
Section 325E.112 — Used Motor Oil And Used Motor Oil Filter Collection.
Section 325E.115 — Lead Acid Batteries; Collection For Recycling.
Section 325E.1151 — Lead Acid Battery Purchase And Return.
Section 325E.125 — General And Special Purpose Battery Requirements.
Section 325E.1251 — Penalty Enforcement.
Section 325E.127 — Notice For Fluorescent Lamps Containing Mercury.
Section 325E.13 — Tampering With Odometers; Definitions.
Section 325E.14 — Prohibited Acts.
Section 325E.15 — Transfer Of Motor Vehicle; Mileage Disclosure.
Section 325E.16 — Penalties; Remedies.
Section 325E.165 — Definition.
Section 325E.166 — Clock-hour Meters; Prohibited Acts.
Section 325E.167 — Penalties And Remedies.
Section 325E.169 — Definitions.
Section 325E.17 — Unlawful Transfers Or Sales Of Recordings.
Section 325E.18 — Identity Of Transferor.
Section 325E.201 — Violations; Punishment.
Section 325E.21 — Dealers In Scrap Metal; Records, Reports, And Registration.
Section 325E.23 — Definitions.
Section 325E.24 — Furnishing Of Space; Exceptions.
Section 325E.26 — Definitions.
Section 325E.27 — Use Of Prerecorded Or Synthesized Voice Messages.
Section 325E.28 — Requirements On Automatic Dialing-announcing Devices.
Section 325E.29 — Message Requirements.
Section 325E.30 — Time Of Day Limit.
Section 325E.317 — Definitions.
Section 325E.318 — Wireless Directories.
Section 325E.319 — Wireless Communications Devices; Acquisition For Resale.
Section 325E.32 — Waste Tires; Collection.
Section 325E.33 — Misconduct Of Athletic Agents.
Section 325E.34 — Free Newspapers; Exclusive Right To Distribute Prohibited.
Section 325E.35 — Definitions.
Section 325E.36 — Seller-financed Agricultural Input Sales.
Section 325E.37 — Termination Of Sales Representatives.
Section 325E.38 — Sale Of Certain Cfc Products Prohibited.
Section 325E.381 — Perchloroethylene Prohibition.
Section 325E.385 — Products Containing Polybrominated Diphenyl Ether.
Section 325E.386 — Products Containing Certain Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers Banned; Exemptions.
Section 325E.387 — Review Of Decabromodiphenyl Ether.
Section 325E.389 — Items Containing Lead Prohibited.
Section 325E.3891 — Cadmium In Children's Jewelry.
Section 325E.39 — Telephone Advertising Services.
Section 325E.395 — Facsimile Transmission Of Unsolicited Advertising Materials.
Section 325E.40 — Sale Of Petroleum-based Sweeping Compound Products Prohibited.
Section 325E.41 — Deceptive Trade Practices; Environmental Marketing Claims.
Section 325E.42 — Deceptive Trade Practices; Gambling Advertising And Marketing Claims.
Section 325E.491 — Definitions.
Section 325E.492 — Production.
Section 325E.50 — Definitions.
Section 325E.51 — Licensing Negotiations.
Section 325E.52 — Royalty Contract Requirements.
Section 325E.53 — Improper Licensing Practices.
Section 325E.54 — Investigation.
Section 325E.56 — Remedies Cumulative.
Section 325E.59 — Use Of Social Security Numbers.
Section 325E.60 — Restroom Access.
Section 325E.61 — Data Warehouses; Notice Required For Certain Disclosures.
Section 325E.63 — Credit Issued To Minors.
Section 325E.64 — Access Devices; Breach Of Security.
Section 325E.65 — Sale Of American Flags.
Section 325E.66 — Insurance Claims For Residential Contracting Goods And Services.