Des Moines, Iowa — Iowans who are struggling to pay their electric and natural gas bills are reminded to make arrangements with their provider before the annual winter moratorium on service disconnections begins on November 1st.
According to a news release by the Iowa Utilities Board, the state’s winter moratorium law prevents utilities from disconnecting customers’ electric or natural gas utility service for nonpayment between November 1st and April 30th when that service is used for heating a home. Limited financial energy assistance is available in Iowa through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, also known as LIHEAP. The annual application period runs from November 1st through April 30th.
The income guidelines depend on a number of factors, but as a general idea, a family of four can generally make up to $55,500 and still qualify for assistance through LIHEAP.
Visit your local community action agency outreach office to apply for LIHEAP and other programs. O’Brien and Osceola county residents can apply at their Upper Des Moines Opportunity office. Lyon and Sioux county residents can apply at their local Mid-Sioux Opportunity office. Iowa law protects qualified applicants who are the head of a household from being disconnected from natural gas or electric service from November 1st through April 1st.
(Fellow Community First Broadcasting station KAYL in Storm Lake assisted with this story.)
