Utility allowed to charge a fee to a customer who has entered into a payment agreement and whose household income is above 50 percent of state median income, utility allowed to charge a reconnection fee, and utility allowed to charge a late payment charge subject to conditions.

This bill allows Minnesota utilities to charge fees to customers with household incomes above 50 percent of the state median income who have entered payment agreements, while protecting lower-income households from such charges. It permits utilities to impose reconnection fees only when service is disconnected due to unauthorized use or equipment tampering, not for nonpayment, and sets limits on late payment charges to a maximum of $50 per customer per year. The legislation also establishes specific conditions under which late payment fees can be collected, including requiring delinquent amounts to exceed $100 and prohibiting charges for households participating in low-income assistance programs. These changes take effect on October 1, 2026, and amend existing state statutes governing utility customer protections and billing practices.