Reconnecting heat service

Utility customers who enter into a payment agreement with their heating utility company after having their service disconnected could get their heat turned back on faster, under a bill passed 132-0 by the House March 10.

HF3368, sponsored by Rep. Linda Slocum (DFL-Richfield), would require utility companies to make “reasonable efforts” to restore heat service within 24 hours of an agreement during the state’s cold weather rule period (Oct. 15 to April 15). The bill now goes to the Senate, where Sen. John Doll (DFL-Burnsville) is the sponsor.

Calling heating service a “basic right” for Minnesotans, Slocum noted that the Public Utilities Commission and representatives from utility companies have agreed to the bill’s language.

The bill would also provide that:

• a utility customer has a right to a payment agreement that takes into account the financial circumstances of their household, even if it exceeds 50 percent of the state’s median income;

• utilities may not charge additional service deposits for customers who are “reasonably on time” in fulfilling their accepted payment agreements; and

• utilities must submit their monthly reports on disconnections, past due accounts and other customer data to the PUC within 45 days after the last day of the month to which the data refers.

Rep. Tom Emmer (R-Delano) tried unsuccessfully to amend the bill by making the rule apply only to those utility customers who do not have outstanding warrants or civil judgments to resolve. Slocum said Emmer’s amendment would have slowed the bill’s progress.