Xcel Urges Customers To Prepare For End of Cold Weather Rule Protection

(KNSI) – The Minnesota Cold Weather Rule ends at 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, opening up people to losing their electric service if they are unable to pay their bills on time.

Xcel Energy says it has many options to make utility payments more affordable. The most popular is the Minnesota Energy Assistance Program, or MEAP. It pays out up to $2,000 for bills or repairs. If you fall below the income threshold, other energy efficiency and conservation programs are available that can help reduce your monthly usage.

Customers can enroll over the phone at 1-800-895-4999 or by using a link on their online profile page. Xcel says the quicker they act, the less likely they will fall prey to a scam.

The company says the scammer will contact the customer and threaten that the service is about to be disconnected due to a past-due account. They then offer a lifeline if the customer makes a large payment through a debit or credit card that can be bought at the corner store. Scammers can be sophisticated, spoofing your caller ID to make it appear as if they are calling from Xcel or another utility provider.

Minnesota’s Cold Weather Rule is a state law that prohibits the primary electric or natural gas service for heat from being shut off between October 1st and April 30th.

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