MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota (Oct. 14, 2019) – The Minnesota Cold Weather rule takes effect Tuesday, and Xcel Energy wants to ensure that residential customers who need assistance paying their energy bills this winter can get the help they need.

Under the rule, residential customers are protected from service disconnection from Oct. 15 through the following April 15, if the disconnection would affect the customer’s primary heating source. Customers must immediately contact the utility and set up a payment plan if they receive a disconnection notice.

“We understand that customers can sometimes face challenges paying their electric and natural gas bills and we want to provide the resources they need to make payment arrangements,” said Nora Lindgren, Credit Manager, Xcel Energy. “We have several programs and work with many agencies that can provide assistance or identify other resources for customers in need.”

Income-eligible customers who contact Xcel Energy for cold weather rule protection can establish plans to make monthly payments not to exceed 10 percent of household income.

Xcel Energy will also provide contact information for local community energy assistance programs.

Customers were recently sent information about the cold weather rule with their energy bills. For more information, customers can call Xcel Energy’s residential customer service line at 1-800-895-4999 Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Additionally, customers can visit the Xcel Energy website for more information about the cold weather rule and energy assistance options.

Be aware of scams

Xcel Energy also wants to remind customers to be aware of scams that typically ramp up during the change in seasons.

In most scenarios, the scammer tells the customer their account is past due and service will be disconnected if a large payment isn’t made – usually within the hour. The scammer then instructs the customer to purchase a pre-paid debit or credit card – widely available at retail stores – and demands the customer call back to supposedly make a payment to the utility. These scammers often sound professional and may also manipulate caller ID so numbers look like they’re coming from Xcel Energy.

Even when a caller sounds legitimate, here are some quick warning signs for customers:

  • Customers should be very suspicious if a caller requires a single form of payment, such as requiring the use of a prepaid debit card. Xcel Energy offers many options for payment when contacting customers by phone, and will never ask or require a customer with a past due account to purchase a prepaid debit card to avoid disconnection.
  • Xcel Energy customers will initially be sent a disconnection notice, in writing, through U.S. mail before power is actually turned off.
  • Customers should never wire money, provide bank card numbers, and social security numbers to an unverified source.

If customers have any doubt about the authenticity of someone claiming to be with Xcel Energy and asking for payment, we recommend that they hang up and check their account status using My Account or our mobile app, or call Xcel Energy Customer Service at 800-895-4999. Xcel Energy’s website has much more information to help people avoid phone, email, in person and employment scams.

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About Xcel Energy

Xcel Energy (NASDAQ: XEL) provides the energy that powers millions of homes and businesses across eight Western and Midwestern states. Headquartered in Minneapolis, the company is an industry leader in responsibly reducing carbon emissions and producing and delivering clean energy solutions from a variety of renewable sources at competitive prices. For more information, visit xcelenergy.com or follow us on Twitter and Facebook.