Public Utilities Commission Public Utilities Commission State of Colorado DORA

Managing Your Winter Energy Bills

In these tough economic times, more and more consumers are falling behind on their electric and natural gas bills. To manage their bills and to help avoid disconnections of utility services, consumers should familiarize themselves with their rights as utility customers and with the resources that are available to assist them.

Your Rights as an Electric or Natural Gas Customer

  • You must be given a monthly bill for service, showing the net amount due for regulated services.

  • The due date of the bill cannot be earlier than 15 days after the mailing or hand delivery of the bill.

  • Your service may not be disconnected unless unpaid charges are more than 30 days past due.

  • Your electric or natural gas utility may shut off your service only after giving you advance written notice at least 15 days before the shut-off date.

  • Residential customers can postpone a shut off for up to 90 days by providing a “medical certification” from a doctor stating that disconnecting service would be especially dangerous to the health or safety of the customer or a permanent resident of the customer’s household.

  • If service is disconnected due to non-payment, it must be turned on again within 24 hours if you (1) pay the full amount due, (2) enter into a payment arrangement plan with the company, or (3) present a medical certificate.

  • Your electric or natural gas service may not be disconnected on a weekend between noon on Friday and 8 a.m. the following Monday.
What Can Consumers Do To Manage Higher Energy Bills?

  • Reduce consumption and use energy efficiency measures wherever possible.

  • Enroll in bill payment plans (such as budget billing) to spread out typically higher winter bills over the rest of the year.

  • If you qualify, take advantage of energy assistance funding offered at the state and federal level.

  • Become familiar with your utility’s disconnection policies.
Available Resources

  • If you have questions or complaints about your utility service, you may call the PUC Consumer Affairs section at 303-894-2070 (local) or 1-800-456-0858 (toll-free), or visit www.dora.state.co.us/puc.

  • If you need help in paying your energy bills, contact the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program at 1-866-HEATHELP or visit www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite/CDHS-SelfSuff/CBON/1251580884665.

  • Contact your utility to take advantage of reduced-cost energy-efficiency programs.

  • Energy Outreach Colorado (www.energyoutreach.org) is a private, non-profit organization that helps families in need pay energy bills and avoid shutoffs. 

  • The Governor’s Energy Office (www.colorado.gov/energy) offers weatherization and other energy-efficiency services to homeowners and businesses.
 
Consumer Protection