Walz, state leaders highlight heating assistance resources that can help lower costs

As temperatures drop, heating bills rise, and state leaders are highlighting resources available to help Minnesotans stay warm this holiday season.

Gov. Tim Walz was joined by Minnesota Department of Commerce Commissioner Grace Arnold to talk more about the help available to Minnesotans during a news conference Monday afternoon.

Under state law, Minnesotans can’t have their electric or natural gas service shut off between Oct. 1 and April 30 as long as a payment plan is set up with the utility company.

Walz and Arnold highlighted other state programs aimed at helping Minnesotans with utility costs, including the Energy Assistance Program and Weatherization Assistance Program.

Those programs have income eligibility requirements but save homeowners an average of $500 per household.

“I think the issue is people not assuming they qualify or for some reason not wanting to and we certainly encourage them to do so. Again, it’s just the basic human right to have your home be warm enough, especially in our cold winters,” Walz said.