by Heidi L. Everett
editor@thenewsleaders.com
Beginning in August regulated utilities can resume normal service, including disconnections. Consumers with past-due electric and gas bills are encouraged to apply now for the Energy Assistance Program to avoid having utility service disconnected.
The Energy Assistance Program is being extended to accept applications through August, and the income eligibility has been expanded so 100,000 more households are eligible for assistance.
“Typically the application process ends in May,” said Lisa Drew, director of planning and development for Tri-CAP which administers the EAP in Benton, Sherburne, Stearns, and Morrison counties. “This gives people time to apply for energy assistance, so they don’t end up in a predicament. There’s a lot of people in Minnesota who are behind on their utilities.”
In Minnesota, about 360,000 households served by regulated utilities have past-due utility bills for electric and gas, with approximately $135 million in unpaid utility bills.
In March 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic began, the Public Utilities Commission adopted measures to ensure Minnesotans had reliable power to stay at home safely.
Now, utilities can send disconnection notices starting June 1 and can begin disconnections Aug. 2.
Households with incomes below 60 percent of the state’s median income may be eligible for energy assistance, which is about $65,000 for a household of four. Only the past three months of income are counted, and recent stimulus payments or pandemic unemployment insurance premiums are not counted.
Consumers with past-due bills also can call their utility and request to set up a plan to pay what they owe. Regulated utilities will not charge late fees or penalties for consumers who have entered and are complying with the payment plan.
Finally, negative credit reporting has permanently ended for regulated utilities. Consumers who have past-due utility bills will not have those late bills reported to credit reporting companies.
There are eight regulated companies that provide gas or electricity in Minnesota, including CenterPoint Energy and Xcel Energy.
Those interested in learning more about EAP or about completing an application for assistance can contact Tri-CAP at tricap.org or by calling 320-251-1612.
Minnesotans also can request an application or find their local service provider online at mn.gov/commerce/eap.jsp or by calling 800-657-3710 and pressing 1.
“COVID has not affected everyone the same,” Drew said. “What we have seen at Tri-CAP for those who have been affected it is with some of the very basic needs. We’ve tried to step in and provide help.”
