Statewide Iowa — Some Iowans have not had their electric or gas service disconnected over the winter — only because the state says they can’t do that during the cold months. It’s called Iowa’s annual winter home heating moratorium, and it ends in the spring every year. This year it ends Saturday, April 1, 2023.
So the state is giving people advanced notice. The Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) reminds energy assistance customers currently protected from service disconnection through the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), to contact their local utility company immediately to discuss payment options and avoid disconnection that could begin as soon as April 3.
LIHEAP is a federally funded program administered by the Iowa Department of Human Rights, Division of Community Action Agencies, and is designed to assist qualified homeowners and renters pay a portion of their primary home heating costs through a one-time payment made directly to the utility or heating fuel vendor. Under Iowa’s winter moratorium law, customers who qualify for LIHEAP or the federal Weatherization Assistance Program are protected from the shutoff of natural gas or electric service annually from November 1 to April 1.
The IUB and Department of Human Rights tell us the end of the winter moratorium period can be stressful. To assist customers during this time of the year, they say to keep these things in mind:
Consumers can still apply for LIHEAP through April 30, 2023. Local community action agencies may have additional resources. 211 Iowa is a resource for assistance with utility payments, housing, and other information that may provide financial relief to customers.
For nonpayment of a bill, all Iowa utilities must provide written notice to a customer at least 12 days prior to disconnection. Customers who have defaulted on a payment agreement may be disconnected with 24 hours’ notice.
