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The winter moratorium on shutting off utility service runs from November 1 through April 1. During this time, LIHEAP-eligible customers of gas and electric services have special protections. Gas and electric utilities cannot be shut off if someone is eligible for and applied for energy assistance. It is still very important for customers to keeping paying on the utility bill. It can cost a lot to heat a house during the winter months. Not paying bills during the winter months can result in a big problem next spring. The amount due from unpaid bills can grow very fast.
Not paying utility bills could result in a big back bill from the winter moratorium period. If that happens, the utility company can and probably will send a notice after April 1. The notice will say that the utility service will be shut off if the back bill is not paid. The back bill from the winter months may be so high that the customer cannot pay it to prevent their utility services from being shut off. This is why it is very important to keep paying on your utility bills during the winter moratorium.
While it is best to keep paying during the winter moratorium, it is NOT a good time for LIHEAP customers to enter into payment agreements with utilities on past-due bills. (You can enter into a payment agreement in April, if necessary, without risk of having broken the agreement in the meantime.)
If you run into problems with your utility service, you may wish to contact Iowa Legal Aid by calling 1-800-532-1275.
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