{"id":12016,"date":"2016-07-15T18:33:11","date_gmt":"2016-07-15T18:33:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dakotaelectric.com\/financial-assistance\/"},"modified":"2026-03-30T15:02:43","modified_gmt":"2026-03-30T20:02:43","slug":"financial-assistance","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.dakotaelectric.com\/member-services\/billing-payment\/financial-assistance\/","title":{"rendered":"Financial Assistance"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-1 nonhundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\" style=\"--awb-border-radius-top-left:0px;--awb-border-radius-top-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-left:0px;--awb-padding-top:0px;--awb-margin-bottom:30px;--awb-flex-wrap:wrap;\" ><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-0 fusion_builder_column_1_1 1_1 fusion-one-full fusion-column-first fusion-column-last\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-flex-column-wrapper-legacy\"><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-1\"><div class=\"fusion-page-title-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"fusion-page-title-captions\">\n<h1 class=\"entry-title\" data-fontsize=\"18\" data-lineheight=\"26\">Financial Assistance<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-2\"><h2 class=\"fusion-responsive-typography-calculated\" style=\"--fontsize: 21; line-height: 1.5; --minfontsize: 21;\" data-fontsize=\"21\" data-lineheight=\"31.5px\">There is help for members unable to pay their electric bills. In addition to protection from the<strong> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.dakotaelectric.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/08_CWR-Notification-copy.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Minnesota Cold Weather Rule<\/a><\/strong>, we work with members to set up a payment plan. Assistance agencies are available to help provide funds for past due bills for qualifying members.<\/h2>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-clearfix\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-2 nonhundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\" style=\"--awb-border-radius-top-left:0px;--awb-border-radius-top-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-left:0px;--awb-padding-top:20px;--awb-padding-bottom:0px;--awb-margin-bottom:120px;--awb-flex-wrap:wrap;\" ><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-1 fusion_builder_column_1_1 1_1 fusion-one-full fusion-column-first fusion-column-last\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-flex-column-wrapper-legacy\"><div class=\"fusion-title title fusion-title-1 sep-underline sep-solid fusion-title-text fusion-title-size-one\"><h1 class=\"fusion-title-heading title-heading-left fusion-responsive-typography-calculated\" style=\"margin:0;--fontSize:33;line-height:1.45;\"><h2><strong>Prevent Disconnection<\/strong><\/h2><\/h1><\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-3\"><div class=\"fusion-column content-box-column content-box-column content-box-column-6 col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12 fusion-content-box-hover content-box-column-last content-box-column-last-in-row\">\n<div class=\"col content-wrapper-background link-area-link-icon icon-hover-animation-fade\">\n<div class=\"content-container\">If you are behind on paying your bill, you can take the following steps to prevent disconnection:<\/div>\n<ul>\n<li class=\"content-container\">Call Dakota Electric at 651-463-6212 to set up payment arrangements.<\/li>\n<li class=\"content-container\">It is important that you keep your payment arrangement to avoid disconnection. If you don&#8217;t think you can make a scheduled payment, contact us BEFORE the payment is due.<\/li>\n<li class=\"content-container\">Contact the fuel assistance agency for the county you live in. Contact information for local assistance agencies is listed below.<\/li>\n<li class=\"content-container\">If you have used all of your fuel assistance funds, contact the agency again for emergency assistance.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"fusion-column content-box-column content-box-column content-box-column-7 col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12 fusion-content-box-hover content-box-column-last-in-row\"><\/div>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-sep-clear\"><\/div><div class=\"fusion-separator fusion-full-width-sep\" style=\"margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;margin-top:20px;margin-bottom:20px;width:100%;\"><\/div><div class=\"fusion-sep-clear\"><\/div><div class=\"fusion-title title fusion-title-2 sep-underline sep-solid fusion-title-text fusion-title-size-one\"><h1 class=\"fusion-title-heading title-heading-left fusion-responsive-typography-calculated\" style=\"margin:0;--fontSize:33;line-height:1.45;\"><h2><strong>Minnesota Energy Assistance Resources<\/strong><\/h2><\/h1><\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-4\"><p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/mn.gov\/commerce\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Minnesota Department of Commerce<\/strong><\/a> has <b><a href=\"https:\/\/mn.gov\/commerce\/consumers\/consumer-assistance\/energy-assistance\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">energy assistance programs<\/a> <\/b>and resources available for members struggling to pay their utility bills. The following agencies can also help members who are struggling to pay their utility bills.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.360communities.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">360 Communities<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.co.dakota.mn.us\/HealthFamily\/PublicAssistance\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Dakota County Employment &amp; Economic Assistance<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.co.goodhue.mn.us\/1227\/Energy-Assistance\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Goodhue County Department of Public Welfare<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/threeriverscap.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Three Rivers Community Action, Inc.<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.co.rice.mn.us\/340\/Social-Services\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Rice County Social Services<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scottcountymn.gov\/193\/Health-Human-Services\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Scott County Human Services<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.capagency.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Scott-Carver-Dakota CAP Agency<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-sep-clear\"><\/div><div class=\"fusion-separator fusion-full-width-sep\" style=\"margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;margin-top:20px;margin-bottom:20px;width:100%;\"><\/div><div class=\"fusion-sep-clear\"><\/div><div class=\"fusion-title title fusion-title-3 sep-underline sep-solid fusion-title-text fusion-title-size-one\"><h1 class=\"fusion-title-heading title-heading-left fusion-responsive-typography-calculated\" style=\"margin:0;--fontSize:33;line-height:1.45;\"><h2><strong>Military Assistance<\/strong><\/h2><\/h1><\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-5\"><p>When a household member has been ordered into active duty, for deployment or for a change of duty station, some members find it hard to pay their utility bills. Minnesota law may protect these military personnel from disconnection if they cannot pay their utility bills in full.<\/p>\n<p><strong>How to apply<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Call 651-463-6212 to get an application and set up a payment plan. You must keep your payment plan to qualify for protection.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Payment plans<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>If your household income is below the state median household income, pay 10 percent of your household&#8217;s gross monthly income toward your gas\/electric bill; or<\/li>\n<li>If you receive energy assistance, pay 10 percent of your household&#8217;s gross monthly income toward your gas\/electric bill; or<\/li>\n<li>If your household income is above the state median household income, make and keep a payment plan.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-sep-clear\"><\/div><div class=\"fusion-separator fusion-full-width-sep\" style=\"margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;margin-top:20px;margin-bottom:20px;width:100%;\"><\/div><div class=\"fusion-sep-clear\"><\/div><div class=\"fusion-title title fusion-title-4 sep-underline sep-solid fusion-title-text fusion-title-size-one\"><h1 class=\"fusion-title-heading title-heading-left fusion-responsive-typography-calculated\" style=\"margin:0;--fontSize:33;line-height:1.45;\"><h2><strong>Third Party Notice<\/strong><\/h2><\/h1><\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-6\"><p>You can choose to have Dakota Electric notify someone else, in addition to yourself, that you are in danger of having your service disconnected.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The third party can be a person or organization such as a friend, relative, church or community agency.<\/li>\n<li>The designated third party can contact Dakota Electric to make payment schedules for you.<\/li>\n<li>The third party notice is especially helpful to those who are ill, elderly or live alone.<\/li>\n<li>The third party IS NOT responsible for payment.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.dakotaelectric.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/08_CWR-Notification-copy.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Download the Third Party Designation form<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-clearfix\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":11707,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-12016","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dakotaelectric.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/12016","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dakotaelectric.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dakotaelectric.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dakotaelectric.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dakotaelectric.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12016"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.dakotaelectric.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/12016\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":719463,"href":"https:\/\/www.dakotaelectric.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/12016\/revisions\/719463"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dakotaelectric.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/11707"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dakotaelectric.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12016"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}