If the heat is already shut off as of October 1, Minnesota's Cold Weather Rule offers a reconnect plan to turn on electricity or gas service. To stop the disconnection of heat, residential callers should ask the natural gas or electric company (whichever supplies their heat) for Cold Weather Rule protection if they cannot pay their bills in full. Customers must contact their utility to make and keep a payment plan in order to keep heat on. If the customer and utility company cannot agree on a payment plan, the customer must contact their utility company to request an appeal form. The customer has 10 days to provide the appeal form to the Public Utilities Commission (PUC). The PUC will help set up a payment plan and service will continue during the appeal process. This protection lasts from October 1 - April 30. Applicants with a household income of 50 percent or less of the state median income are not required to pay more than 10% of their monthly household income toward utility bills. Household income is defined as total gross income from all sources for all members of the applicant's household. Since income levels change every year, call PUC for details. For financial assistance or help with propane or fuel oil, call the Energy Assistance Hotline.