The Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) today issued an emergency order directing all electric and natural gas utilities in the state to cease disconnection of residential service due to nonpayment. The emergency order, issued in Docket No. SPU-2020-0003, comes in response to a statewide disaster proclamation of public health emergency issued on March 9, 2020, by Gov. Kim Reynolds to enhance the state’s response to novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

The extended moratorium period will continue until May 1, 2020. Income-eligible Iowans have until April 30 each year to apply for limited financial heating assistance through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). The application deadline was not extended with today’s order.

The LIHEAP program is designed to help low-income families meet the partial cost of home heating through a one-time payment made directly to the utility or heating fuel vendor. Iowa law also protects qualified applicants who are the head of a household from being disconnected from natural gas or electric service during the annual winter moratorium, normally November 1 through April 1.

Iowa customers seeking LIHEAP financial assistance for utility bills should contact their local community action agency before April 30 to discuss eligibility guidelines. Although qualified applicants cannot be disconnected during the moratorium, the IUB urges all LIHEAP-certified customers to continue paying toward their energy bills to avoid accumulating high debt and facing potential utility service disconnection once the moratorium period ends.

The statewide extension period issued by IUB order today applies to all investor-owned, municipal and cooperative utilities in Iowa.  

For the latest guidelines about preventing the spread of COVID-19, see the Iowa Department of Public Health’s novel coronavirus (COVID-19) webpage. Read Gov. Kim Reynolds’ March 9, 2020, proclamation here.

The home heating season is rapidly approaching and the Iowa Utilities Board reminds Iowans that limited financial heating assistance is available to income-eligible utility customers through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). The annual application period runs from November 1 through April 30, with early applications accepted throughout October from households with elderly or disabled residents.

The LIHEAP program is designed to help low-income families meet the partial cost of home heating through a one-time payment made directly to the utility or heating fuel vendor. Iowa law also protects qualified applicants who are the head of a household under LIHEAP or the weatherization assistance program from being disconnected from natural gas or electric service during the annual winter moratorium, November 1 and through April 1. Although qualified applicants cannot be disconnected during the moratorium, the IUB urges all LIHEAP-certified customers to continue paying toward their energy bills through the winter to avoid accumulating high debt and facing potential utility service disconnection in the spring.

Eligibility for the federally funded LIHEAP program is based on household size and income. Interested applicants should review the federal income guidelines to determine whether they qualify, then apply at the community action agency serving their area. Heating assistance dollars for LIHEAP and the federally funded weatherization assistance program are limited.

For assistance, utility customers may contact their local utility company, or contact the Iowa Utilities Board Customer Service staff at 877.565.4450 or customer@iub.iowa.gov.

Learn more on the IUB’s LIHEAP web page, iub.iowa.gov/liheap, or through the Iowa Department of Human Rights, humanrights.iowa.gov/dcaa/liheap, or call 515.281.3861.