Utility shutoff protection by state: which winter rules apply on 24 October 2026
Eleven state rules, read on the commission's own pages: when each protected season opens, what you have to prove, what it costs, and what to do in the weeks before it starts.
Short answer: Utility shutoff protection by state in 2026 is not one rule: on 24 October only 2 of the 9 state windows we compiled are in force (Minnesota and Ohio), four more open on 1 November, and Illinois and Pennsylvania do not open until 1 December. Call your utility and ask for a payment plan, because several of these protections only work if you ask for them before the shutoff date.
Utility shutoff protection by state: which rules are in force on 24 October 2026
Eleven state rules fall into five types, plus New York's health screen, and only the type tells you what to do. Wisconsin and Pennsylvania protect households at or below 250 percent of the poverty line; Michigan and New Jersey tie protection to benefits, age or hardship; Minnesota and Ohio require a payment step; Maryland, Georgia and Illinois add a forecast-temperature test; Texas protects only on extreme-weather days. This table is the whole map, and each row links to the state's own page.
| State | Protected window | From 24 Oct 2026 | Who is protected and the catch | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | Oct 1 to Apr 30 | Open as of 24 Oct 2026 | Electric and gas customers who make and keep a payment plan; renters count if the account is in their name | MN PUC |
| Ohio | Oct 12 to Apr 16 | Open as of 24 Oct 2026 | Any customer of a PUCO-regulated utility; pay $175 to keep or restore service; no income test | Ohio OCC |
| Wisconsin | Nov 1 to Apr 15 | Opens 1 Nov 2026 | Utility may disconnect only households with income above 250% of the poverty line; no Friday to Sunday or holiday disconnections | PSC 113.0304 |
| New York | Nov 1 to Apr 15 | Opens 1 Nov 2026 | Utility must try to reach you 72 hours ahead and may not cut heat where a resident is likely to suffer serious impairment to health or safety | NY DPS |
| Michigan | Nov 1 to Mar 31 | Opens 1 Nov 2026 | Income at or below 150% of the poverty line or on aid, paying 7% of the estimated annual bill monthly; separate protection for age 65 and over | MPSC |
| Maryland | Nov 1 to Mar 31 | Opens 1 Nov 2026 | Utility must file an affidavit 24 hours ahead; no shutoff when the 6 a.m. forecast is 32F or lower | COMAR |
| Georgia | Nov 15 to Mar 15 | Opens 15 Nov 2026 | No shutoff when the forecast is below 32F for 24 hours (electric) or 48 hours (gas) | GA PSC |
| Pennsylvania | Dec 1 to Mar 31 | Opens 1 Dec 2026 | Utility needs the PUC's approval to cut service for households under 250% of the poverty line (150% at Philadelphia Gas Works) | PA PUC |
| Illinois | Dec 1 to Mar 31 | Opens 1 Dec 2026 | No shutoff when the forecast is 32F or lower; heating customers must be offered a plan with at most 10% down | ICC |
| New Jersey | Nov 15 to Mar 15 (2025-26) | 2026-27 not announced | Households on LIHEAP, TANF, SSI and similar programs, or unable to pay for reasons beyond their control | NJ BPU |
| Texas | No calendar window | Weather only | No disconnection in a county on a day it stays at or below 32F, or when a heat advisory is in effect | 16 TAC 25.483 |
What to do while you wait for winter shutoff protection to start
Of the nine state windows we compiled, two are open on 24 October 2026, four open 8 days after that date, one 22 days after and two 38 days after (dates from the Wisconsin PSC, Illinois ICC, Pennsylvania PUC and the other state sources in the table above), so a reader who is behind on 24 October 2026 has between 0 and 38 days with no seasonal rule. These steps cover that gap:
- Call the utility and ask for a payment plan. Minnesota's PUC says you can set up a plan any time; Illinois requires an offer of a plan with at most 10 percent down before a winter disconnection (ICC).
- Apply for LIHEAP and local energy help. Dial 211 for the agency that takes applications near you; Wisconsin's PSC points customers to its energy assistance line, 1-866-432-8947.
- Get a medical certificate if anyone at home is seriously ill. Michigan gives a 21-day hold, extendable to 63 days per person (MPSC); Pennsylvania's initial certification lasts up to 30 days with renewals (PUC).
- In Ohio, book a Winter Crisis Program appointment. Utilities must delay disconnection 30 days after the appointment date (Ohio Consumers' Counsel).
- Name a third party for notices. Minnesota and Pennsylvania let a neighbour or relative receive copies of shutoff notices, so a mailing delay cannot cost you the window.
- If you are working, ask whether your employer or an app offers earned wage access: it lets you draw part of the pay you have already earned before payday. It is not a loan; check the fee before you use it.
Winter shutoff season length, ranked by days covered
Winter shutoff season length ranges from 121 days to 212 days across the nine states with a calendar window. Minnesota's Cold Weather Rule, set by statute as the period "from October 1 through April 30", is 91 days longer than the Illinois and Pennsylvania seasons, which is the difference between protection through April and none after 31 March. Ohio's Special Reconnect Order is the only other window to start in October.
A short season does not mean weaker protection on the days it covers, and a long one is not unconditional. Minnesota's window needs a payment plan you keep; Illinois's needs the temperature to be forecast at or below 32F or a plan to have been offered. Compare the conditions in the next section before you count days.
Who is protected: income tests, temperature tests and health holds
Utility shutoff protection splits into five rule types plus New York's health screen, and the one that applies to you decides which proof to send. The lanes below start from the rule type and end at the first thing to do.
Two points catch people out. First, income-tested rules are written the other way round from how readers expect: Wisconsin's rule says a utility "may disconnect only those households whose gross quarterly incomes are above 250% of the federal income poverty guidelines", so the protected group is everyone at or under that line, and Pennsylvania's PUC uses the same 250 percent line (150 percent for Philadelphia Gas Works). Second, a forecast test can protect you on one day and not the next: Maryland's rule bars nonpayment termination when the 6 a.m. forecast is 32 degrees Fahrenheit or below, and the OPC page adds that the utility re-checks every 24 hours.
Health holds cut across all of this. New York's rule says no utility may cut heat-related service where it finds that a resident is likely to suffer serious impairment to health or safety, and lists age, infirmity, life-support equipment, serious illness and disability as signs. Michigan's MPSC adds a critical-care protection for customers who use home medical equipment or a life-support system, certified annually.
State winter shutoff rules in detail
Each entry below states what the state's own page says, the cost to you, and the catch. We read all of them on 24 October 2026.
- Minnesota
- The PUC says the Cold Weather Rule protects residential electric and natural gas customers from 1 October to 30 April if you make and keep a payment plan, and renters qualify when the account is in their name. Under Minnesota Statutes 216B.096, a customer at or below 50 percent of state median income cannot be made to pay more than "ten percent of the household income" toward current and past bills for heating service. Oil, propane and wood are not covered. If you cannot agree on a plan, you can appeal to the PUC within 10 days of the date on the form, and service stays on during the appeal.
- Ohio
- The Special Reconnect Order runs 12 October 2026 to 16 April 2027. Any electric or natural gas customer of a PUCO-regulated utility can pay $175 to keep or restore service even if the balance is higher; there are no income restrictions. Households at or below 175 percent of the poverty line may get help with the $175 from the Winter Crisis Program, and the PUCO line is 1-800-686-7826.
- Wisconsin
- The PSC's 22 October 2026 release says utilities are prohibited from disconnecting for nonpayment when service is used for home heating from 1 November to 15 April. PSC 113.0304 bars disconnection on a Friday, Saturday, Sunday or holiday, or on any day utility staff are not available around the clock. Complaint lines: 608-266-2001 or 1-800-225-7729.
- New York
- From 1 November to 15 April, the PSC regulation posted by DPS requires a utility to try to contact you by phone or in person at least 72 hours before a heat-related disconnection. It is a health-and-safety screen, not a flat ban.
- Michigan
- The MPSC lists a Low Income Winter Protection Plan (1 November to 31 March) for customers at or below 150 percent of the poverty level or on MDHHS cash aid, SSI, SNAP or Medicaid. You pay at least 7 percent of the estimated annual bill each month and must show you applied for heating assistance. A separate senior protection covers customers 65 and over for the same dates. Some protections may not be offered by municipal electric utilities or electric co-operatives.
- Maryland
- COMAR 20.31.03.03 bars nonpayment termination from 1 November through 31 March "unless the utility first certifies to the Commission by an affidavit filed at least 24 hours before the termination, that the termination does not constitute a threat to the life or health of the residential occupants." A separate temporary restriction applies when the 6 a.m. forecast is 32F or below. The People's Counsel says the weather restriction is short-term.
- Georgia
- The PSC says a utility shall not discontinue electric service between 15 November and 15 March if the forecast is below 32F for a 24-hour period starting at 8:00 a.m. on the disconnection date. Its natural gas page gives 48 hours for gas and applies the same 48-hour test to electric service, so ask the utility which test it uses. On that page the PSC adds that you must agree in writing to pay the past due balance in installments ending before 15 October.
- Pennsylvania
- The PUC says its winter moratorium protects consumers from termination between 1 December and 31 March, and service is restored within 24 hours after you pay and meet the utility's conditions. If the utility cannot reach you at the time of termination it leaves a 48-hour notice. The PUC consumer line is 1-800-692-7380.
- Illinois
- The ICC says the winter weather rule is in effect from 1 December to 31 March. LIHEAP and PIPP participants, electric space heating customers, and military personnel and veterans cannot be disconnected for falling behind. The ICC line is 1-800-524-0795. The release is dated 9 December 2025; the rule dates are standing ones.
- New Jersey
- The BPU's Winter Termination Program ran 15 November 2025 to 15 March 2026 for electric, gas, water and sewer service, for households on LIHEAP, TANF, SSI, PAAD, General Assistance, USF or Lifeline, or unable to pay for reasons beyond their control. We did not find 2026-27 dates on 24 October, so check the BPU before 15 November.
- Texas
- 16 TAC 25.483(j): a provider "must not authorize a disconnection for nonpayment of electric service for any customer in a county in which an extreme weather emergency occurs." There is no season, so the protection can apply in March and not in January.
If your service is already shut off: how to get it back
Getting service back after a winter shutoff takes a payment, an arrangement, or both, and the rules set the clock differently in each state. Pennsylvania's PUC says the utility will restore service within 24 hours after you pay and meet its conditions between 1 December and 31 March, with seven days if street or sidewalk digging is needed. Wisconsin's PSC says a utility is not required to reconnect until payment arrangements are made. Ohio's Special Reconnect Order restores service for $175 plus a reconnection fee of no more than $36 upfront. Minnesota's PUC says that once you make and keep a payment plan, the utility will turn your heat on.
Ask for the reconnection time in writing, and keep the date and name of the person you spoke to. If the utility will not agree, use the regulator's complaint line from the section above; Minnesota's appeal form, for example, must reach the PUC within 10 days.
Who these rules do not protect
- Households under 250 percent of the poverty line in Wisconsin or Pennsylvania
- Anyone in Ohio who can pay $175, or in Minnesota who can keep a payment plan
- Households with a seriously ill member who can get a medical certificate
- People who heat with the metered utility in their own name
- Households that heat with oil, propane or wood: Minnesota's PUC says delivered fuels are not covered
- Customers of some municipal utilities and co-operatives: Michigan's MPSC says some protections may not be offered by them
- Business accounts: Wisconsin's rule is written for residential dwelling units, and winter rules are residential rules
- Anyone shut off before the window opens, or for theft, tampering or safety, which the Illinois ICC excludes
Renters and self-employed readers should note two things. Minnesota's PUC says you are eligible even if you rent, as long as electricity or gas is your primary heat and the account is in your name. For income-tested rules, Wisconsin counts gross quarterly income, so for a freelancer with an uneven quarter the three-month total is what the utility compares to the 250 percent line.
What to say when you call the utility
A utility phone call works best when you say your state's rule by name and ask for the plan in writing. The card below holds the script; copy it, print it or send it to yourself.
BEFORE YOU CALL - Account number and the amount past due (from the bill or notice) - Income proof for the household (pay stubs, award letters; for freelance work, the last 3 months) - Name of anyone ill in the home, and a doctor's letter if one exists - Pen and paper for date, time and the name of the person you reach SAY THIS "I am behind on my bill and I want to stay connected this winter. Which winter protection applies to my account in [your state]? I would like a payment plan I can keep. What is the first payment? Please send the plan and the dates to me in writing." ASK EVERY TIME [ ] Is my household eligible for the state winter rule? What proof do you need? [ ] What is the shutoff date, and who can I call if it changes? [ ] Can a neighbour or relative get copies of my notices (third party notice)? [ ] If we cannot agree, how do I appeal, and does service stay on during it? IF THEY REFUSE Write down the name and time, then call your regulator: WI PSC 1-800-225-7729 · PA PUC 1-800-692-7380 · IL ICC 1-800-524-0795 MN PUC 1-800-657-3782 · OH PUCO 1-800-686-7826 KNOW THE SCAM A caller who wants a gift card, wire or crypto today is not your utility. Hang up and call the number on your bill.
Utility shutoff scams in winter: what the FTC says
Shutoff threats are a standard scam script, and the FTC gives a simple test. The FTC says that if a caller demands payment by gift card, cash reload card, wire or cryptocurrency, it is a scam, and that utility companies do not demand banking information by email or phone (FTC consumer alert). Hang up, and call the number printed on your bill or the utility's website. Report scams at reportfraud.ftc.gov. A real shutoff comes with written notice and a payment plan offer, as the pages above describe.
Frequently asked questions
Does every state ban utility shutoffs in winter?
What can I do while waiting for winter shutoff protection to start?
How much does it cost to stop a utility shutoff in Ohio?
When does the Illinois winter shutoff rule start?
Can my power be shut off in winter in Pennsylvania?
Does Texas have a winter shutoff moratorium?
What if my service is already shut off?
Do these rules count self-employed or gig income?
Is a caller who threatens to cut my power today real?
Bottom line
Utility shutoff protection depends on your state, the date and a condition you usually have to claim. Only Minnesota and Ohio are open on 24 October 2026; Wisconsin, New York, Michigan and Maryland open on 1 November, Georgia on 15 November, and Illinois and Pennsylvania on 1 December. Call your utility, ask for a payment plan in writing, apply for energy assistance through 211, and get a medical certificate if anyone at home is ill.
For the wider picture, read our guide on rental and utility assistance at the same time, how to apply for government assistance, or the overview of government assistance programs for families. State guides: Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York and Texas.
Related guides: benefits wait clock for every program, how fast LIHEAP crisis assistance pays, help with bills between paychecks, holiday season help for families, Virginia assistance programs guide and Missouri assistance programs guide.
How we built this page: we compiled and verified the rules from first-party sources, read on 24 October 2026 (linked inline): the Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, New Jersey, Maryland, Georgia and Texas utility regulators, Ohio's Consumers' Counsel, New York's Department of Public Service, state statutes and administrative codes, and the FTC. The season lengths and day counts are our arithmetic from those dates. We did not contact utilities, and rules and dates change each season; New Jersey's 2026-27 dates and Massachusetts's current order were not available to us. This is not legal advice. See our methodology.