DES MOINES, Iowa—The Iowa Utilities Board issued an emergency order today extending the end of the winter moratorium from April 1 to May 13, 2019. This emergency extension applies to all investor-owned, municipal, and cooperative utilities providing electric and natural gas service. The extension will assist and protect energy assistance customers impacted by severe flooding who reside in declared disaster areas, and allows those customers to return to their residences and begin the recovery process.

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds has issued Disaster Proclamations for multiple Iowa counties due to the continuing widespread flooding. Today’s action by the IUB is consistent with the Governor’s Proclamations.

Iowa customers approved under the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) or Weatherization Program cannot be disconnected during the state’s annual winter moratorium under Iowa Code 476.20(2).

The annual moratorium typically runs from November 1 to April 1.

View a map of affected counties at https://www.homelandsecurity.iowa.gov/index.html

(contributed article IUB)