Restrictions on utility disconnections end next week

St. Paul, Minn. — Xcel Energy is reminding Minnesotans who haven't kept up with their winter heating bills that the state's Cold Weather Rule ends next week.

The law is designed to protect residential energy customers from service disconnections affecting their primary heating source between Oct. 15 and April 15.

Xcel's Patrick Boland says concerned customers should contact their utility right away.

"We need to have them communicate with us what their resources are, if they're going to be out getting any type of assistance through the community based organizations, or if there's any extenuating circumstances we need to understand, prior to the 15th," said Boland.

Boland says Xcel is expecting an increase in the number of disconnects this year, especially during the first few weeks following the end of Cold Weather Rule protection.