Crisis Program (Energy Assistance)
Crisis Program (Energy Assistance)
EAP Crisis benefits are used to prevent shut-offs, reconnect natural gas or electric services and provide additional delivered fuel in emergency situations.
To be eligible for crisis funding you must:
- Be EAP eligible
- Have received a Primary Heat benefit that did not resolve the emergency
- Be occupying the dwelling at the time Crisis is requested
- Have your energy bill in a household member’s name
- Have one of the following Crisis reasons:
- Heat or electricity is shut off
- Heat or electricity disconnection notice in the next 30 days
- Less than 20% in fuel tank and a refusal to deliver
- Senior past due or current energy bill
If you are eligible for this program and are experiencing an emergency, please contact us – we may be able to help. Please call your MVAC County office or email eap@mnvac.org
For more information on the EAP Crisis Program please see our FAQs below.
Here is more resource information on the Cold Weather Rule and legal help
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, unless you take steps under the Cold Weather Rule to protect yourself. You must contact your utility company to apply for Cold Weather Rule protection and agree to a payment plan and make those payments to avoid disconnection. This is true for all residential customers who have natural gas or electricity, including families with young children and senior citizens.
All utilities must offer a Cold Weather Rule payment plan according to the Minnesota state law. Rate-regulated utilities (Xcel Energy, Centerpoint Energy, Minnesota Power, and others) must follow a more expanded rule than municipal utilities and electric cooperatives. There are separate laws that have similar protections for municipal and electric cooperative customers. Delivered fuels, such as fuel oil, propane and wood are not covered.
The CWR regulates the conditions under which gas and electric utilities may disconnect residential service in the winter (from Oct. 1 to Apr. 30). The CWR requires that ratepayers who have difficulty paying heating bills contact their utility to work out a mutually acceptable payment plan to prevent disconnection of service. The type of plan available depends on your household income level.