Nebraska Gas Customers of Black Hills Energy and NorthWestern Energy Get an Extra 30 Days Before Any Shutoff Through March 31
The Nebraska Public Service Commission (PSC) is reminding natural gas customers that its Cold Weather Rule took effect Nov. 1 and stays in force through March 31. Under it, Black Hills Energy and NorthWestern Energy cannot disconnect a residential customer for nonpayment without first allowing an extra 30 days past the original bill due date, according to KSNB Local4’s report on the commission’s reminder.
The commission regulates the state’s investor-owned gas utilities, and the rule has been in place for more than 20 years.
What the Cold Weather Rule Requires of the Two Gas Companies
The PSC’s consumer announcement describes the protection in one line: from Nov. 1 through March 31, the two jurisdictional utilities cannot disconnect service without giving customers an extra 30 days to pay beyond the normal due date. The 30 days run from the original due date on the bill.
The commission says it adopted the rule more than 20 years ago, when it took on regulatory oversight of the state’s investor-owned natural gas companies. The rule delays a disconnection; it does not erase what is owed.
PSC Chair Tim Schram said the commission wants to ensure every household stays safe and warm through the winter months. He added that anyone facing challenges paying a utility bill should reach out to the provider before disconnection becomes a risk. Nichole Mulcahy, director of the PSC Natural Gas Department, said the rule “isn’t just about preventing shutoffs” but is about communication between customer and company.
Which Customers Are Covered and Which Are Not
The rule covers residential customers of the two regulated gas companies, Black Hills Energy and NorthWestern Energy. Municipal utilities, including Omaha’s Metropolitan Utilities District (M.U.D.), are outside PSC oversight, and the commission says they do not have to follow the rule.
A customer served by M.U.D. is therefore not covered by the PSC’s 30-day extension, and would look to the utility’s own disconnection policies. The PSC’s page directs questions about the rule to its Natural Gas consumer webpage and to [email protected].
The reminder covers natural gas only. Electric service and other fuels are not part of the Cold Weather Rule as the commission describes it.
Payment Arrangements at Black Hills Energy and NorthWestern Energy
Both companies run their own programs for customers who fall behind. Black Hills Energy’s Nebraska payment assistance page lists payment arrangements for customers behind on a bill and Budget Billing, which it describes as a free plan that averages monthly payments to make bills more predictable. It also lists Black Hills Cares, funded by voluntary customer and employee donations, which helps eligible customers pay bills or emergency energy-related expenses and asks applicants to apply for LIHEAP first. The page adds a Medical Extension program for residential customers whose service is medically essential, as certified by a licensed physician, and gives a contact form instead of a phone number.
NorthWestern Energy’s payment arrangements page tells customers who are behind to call or log in to My Energy Account, where eligibility depends on the account. Customers can go to Payments, choose Payment Arrangements, review the schedule and terms and submit the request, then watch for an email confirmation. Customer Service is at 800-245-6977. The company also offers Budget Billing, with the same amount due each month year round and plans reviewed no more than once per quarter.
The common thread in the PSC’s advice and in both companies’ pages is contact before the due date passes. The extra 30 days gives time to set up an arrangement, but neither the commission nor the companies describe it as automatic forgiveness.
Nebraska’s LIHEAP and the Other Help Behind the 30 Days
The commission’s reminder points to two sources of heating help: the Salvation Army’s HeatShare program for emergency heating costs, and the federally funded Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), run by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.
The state’s LIHEAP page says the heating season runs from Oct. 1 through March 31, with the payment made once per season to the utility provider, and that crisis assistance is available year-round. Eligibility is household income at or below 150% of the federal poverty level, with income limits for Oct. 1, 2026 through Sept. 30, 2027 listed at $23,940 for one person and $32,460 for two, plus $8,520 for each additional member.
Applications can be made online at iServe Nebraska, in person at a DHHS office or by phone through ACCESSNebraska, according to DHHS. The toll-free number is (800) 383-4278, with Lincoln at (402) 323-3900 and Omaha at (402) 595-1258. DHHS says anyone with a shutoff notice or at risk of one should call (800) 383-4278.
The crisis benefit can cover utility deposits, reconnect fees and heating bills when a household hits an emergency such as an unexpected medical expense or job loss, and DHHS says the crisis must have occurred within the past 90 days. Black Hills Energy’s page also lists 211 at ne211.org for local social services, including help with utility bills. It tells customers to start with LIHEAP, applying online at iserve.nebraska.gov, where a checklist covers eligibility, documents and steps, and it lists the Nebraska Weatherization Assistance Program, which helps low-income families lower bills by making homes more energy efficient.
The 30-day extension runs on the utility’s schedule and LIHEAP runs on the state’s, which is why the commission’s message is to start both conversations early: the rule buys time, and the programs are what can pay the bill.
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This article was produced with AI assistance and edited for accuracy against the sources linked above.
Image: Ente75 – CC0/Wikimedia Commons
