A past-due notice in November can sound like the start of a long, cold winter. In five Midwestern states, though, rules exist to keep the heat on for many households, and the details of who is covered, when and at what cost change at every state line.
Ohio, Michigan, Minnesota, Iowa and Illinois all limit winter utility shutoffs in some form, and several of the protections run well into spring. Each one works differently, and in most cases a customer has to ask for help rather than wait for it to arrive.
Ohio’s Special Reconnect Order Runs to April 16
The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio issued its special reconnect order on Sept. 30, and it covers Oct. 12, 2026, through April 16, 2027, according to the commission’s bulletin. Residential customers of regulated electric or natural gas utilities can use it once per heating season, with no income requirement. Readers following other states can compare notes with this earlier look at winter shutoff protections in Nebraska, Pennsylvania and one more state.
Under the order, customers pay up to $175 plus any reconnection charge, and that charge cannot exceed $36. Anything above $36 may be added to the next monthly bill. Help with heating costs also exists elsewhere in the Midwest, as in Illinois, where heating aid opened to eligible households. Households at or below 175 percent of federal income guidelines can apply for the Home Energy Assistance Program winter crisis help to cover the $175. Lower bills over the long run are the goal of a Frenz Hub roundup of energy efficient home improvement tips that save money.
Michigan’s Two Winter Protection Plans
Michigan runs two separate programs from Nov. 1 through March 31, according to the Michigan Public Service Commission. The Low Income Winter Protection Plan covers customers at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty level, as well as those who receive state cash assistance, SSI, SNAP or Medicaid…