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Iowa LIHEAP Policy and Procedures Manual 9.00 Moratorium on Winter Disconnections

Effective 09/01/2023

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9.00 MORATORIUM ON WINTER DISCONNECTIONS

Iowa has a Cold Weather rule for all households served by regulated utilities. Per Iowa Administrative Code 199, Chapter 19, 20 and 27, natural gas and electric utilities will not disconnect service if the temperature is forecasted to be 20 degrees Fahrenheit or colder during the 24-hour period, including the day service is scheduled to be disconnected. The Cold Weather rule does not depend on applying for energy assistance through LIHEAP.

Iowa law provides that LIHEAP customers, who are eligible for the Energy Assistance Program or Weatherization, may not be disconnected from their electric or natural gas supply from November 1 through April 1 of each year, regardless of the temperature. This is known as the Moratorium on winter disconnections.

In order to comply with the moratorium law, the following is required:

Upon initial contact by a potential LIHEAP customer after November 1, the CAA must offer the interested customer an opportunity to make application within their county of residence within at least 10 calendar days from the date of contact. LIHEAP customers may choose an application date, which is beyond the specified 10-day period, if necessary. LIHEAP customers with disconnect notices should have their applications taken the day of contact, or as soon as possible thereafter.

For households in a disconnect situation or at risk of disconnection, both the electric and natural gas provider, if any, must be notified immediately by the CAA that a household has applied and been approved for Energy Assistance, or is eligible for the Weatherization Assistance Program to invoke moratorium protection.

Notification to vendors of households that have been approved will be made at least weekly by the CAA via the Bulletin Board, LIHEAP’s vendor notification system. An application must be approved or denied, and the LIHEAP customer, and both utilities, notified in writing or electronically of eligibility by the CAA within a maximum of 30 calendar days following the date that the LIHEAP application is completed.

For the purposes of notification, an unreviewed application is considered to be an application as far as invoking moratorium protection. CAA’s still have 30 calendar days to approve or deny an application.

For disconnected households who do not have enough personal funds to reconnect, a direct pay of a LIHEAP Regular Assistance funds may be made to the customer (see Section 13.00) or LIHEAP Regular Assistance funds and ECIP funds may be combined to reconnect service. When the household has enough funds for reconnection, the household must notify the CAA so the appropriate utility can be contacted to invoke moratorium protection.

LIHEAP customers whose residence is attached to their business and the utilities are all under one account (not separate residential and business accounts), qualify for moratorium protection. The CAA should contact the state LIHEAP office who will then notify the Iowa Utilities Board of the protection.

LIHEAP-approved customers whose primary and secondary utilities are included in rent are ineligible for moratorium protection because utility billing information is not provided.

When a LIHEAP-approved adult member of a household moves to another residence (e.g., a separation or divorce), moratorium protection will follow that member to the new household. If utilities have been disconnected at the new residence, the utility company is required to turn on the service. Municipals and REC’s may require a deposit and transfer any applicable debt. The CAA should notify the utility of the