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The annual winter moratorium on disconnections for nonpayment starts soon.
The moratorium runs from Nov. 1 to April 15 and prohibits utility providers from disconnecting residential heating services for nonpayment.
To avoid disconnection, the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin advises customers who have fallen behind on payments to contact their utility to set up a payment plan.
Customers who are currently disconnected have to make arrangements to restore service because utilities are not required to reconnect service until payment arrangements have been made.
Though you can’t get cut off starting Nov. 1, winter weather and increased costs for energy could mean your debt can pile up high.
Customers who are behind on their bills may be at risk of disconnection if payment arrangements are not established by April 15, 2027.
Customers should contact their utility provider to make a payment or arrange a payment plan.
We Energies, which serves most of Milwaukee, can be reached at 800-842-4565.
If you cannot reach an agreement with your utility, you can contact the Public Service Commission by calling 608-266-2001 or 800-225-7729, or by submitting a complaint online.
Resources if you are worried about your utility
Focus on Energy partners with service providers to connect Wisconsin residents and businesses to affordable energy efficiency services. The program offers free energy-saving packs annually.
All households, apartments included, are eligible for a free pack that has things like efficient LED lights, water-saving shower heads and a weatherization pack that helps you get your home ready for winter.
Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program
The Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program assists eligible households with their heating and electric bills. Eligible families must make less than 60% of the median state income, which is $39,864 for a household of one and $88,927 for a household of five.
Weatherization Assistance Program
The program provides energy conservation services in eligible households to help reduce home energy costs and save energy. The program covers work like insulation, sealing air leaks and repairing or replacing inefficient furnaces or other appliances.
Milwaukee County Energy Assistance Program
The Energy Assistance Program provides qualified Milwaukee County residents with a one-time, annual payment toward heating and electric bills. How much assistance you receive depends on your household size, income and energy costs and goes directly to the energy supplier.
Jonathan Aguilar is a visual journalist at Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service who is supported through a partnership between CatchLight Local and Report for America.
The pause on utility cutoffs begins Nov. 1: Here’s what you need to know is a post from Wisconsin Watch, a non-profit investigative news site covering Wisconsin since 2009. Please consider making a contribution to support our journalism.
