Cold Weather Rule Takes Effect for Winter Season
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Nov. 2, 2026
PSC REMINDS NATURAL GAS CUSTOMERS TO
PLAN AHEAD FOR HEATING COSTS AS 2026-27
COLD WEATHER RULE TAKES EFFECT
LINCOLN – As Nebraska prepares for the winter heating
season, the Nebraska Public Service Commission (PSC)
is reminding natural gas customers of its Cold Weather
Rule, which provides additional time to pay past-due bills
before service can be disconnected from Nov. 1 through
the following March 31.
During this period, the state’s two jurisdictional natural gas
utilities – Black Hills Energy and NorthWestern Energy –
must allow residential customers an additional 30 days to
pay beyond the normal bill due date before disconnecting
service for nonpayment.
Customers anticipating difficulty paying their natural gas
bill should contact their provider as early as possible to
discuss payment arrangements.
“Planning ahead and communicating with your utility
provider can make a real difference when winter heating
bills put more pressure on household budgets that are
already stretched thin,” said PSC Chair Tim Schram.
“We encourage customers who may have trouble paying
their bills to reach out early, understand their options and
make a plan before the situation becomes more difficult to
manage.”
The Cold Weather Rule is an administrative regulation
that the PSC has enforced for more than 20 years.
Municipally owned natural gas utilities, such as Omaha-
based Metropolitan Utilities District, are not subject to
PSC regulation and are not required to comply with the
Cold Weather Rule.
“Don’t wait for a disconnection notice,” said Nichole Mulcahy,
director of the PSC’s Natural Gas Department. “It’s never too
early to explore energy assistance programs available in the
community and to look into safe, easy ways to reduce
energy costs at home.”
Among the assistance programs customers can contact are
the Salvation Army HeatShare and the Nebraska
Department of Health and Human Services Low Income
Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).
Additional resources are available on the PSC Natural
Gas Department’s consumer webpage or by contacting
psc.naturalgas@nebraska.gov.
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Media Contact:
Jason McFarley
(402) 430-5640
jason.mcfarley@nebraska.gov
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