Programs that may help pay your Xcel Energy bill in Minnesota
In Minnesota, Xcel Energy delivers both the electricity and the natural gas that many households rely on to get through winter — which makes an unaffordable bill especially stressful when the temperature drops. Xcel and its partners run a range of help for that situation. This page will help you find options that may help pay the bill, and it is worth understanding the differences between the programs, because they solve different problems.
A few of these programs lower your bill month after month. Others are there for an emergency, like a shut-off notice or a dead furnace. And one is a state rule that keeps the heat on through the coldest months while you get caught up. Below is each one, who it fits, and where to begin. You can reach Xcel directly at 1-800-895-4999, and because several of these programs run on limited funding or need to be set up before you fall far behind, it pays to start sooner rather than later.
- SCAM WARNING: People that are struggle to pay their utility bills, especially during extreme weather events, are often the target of scammers. See details below on what to be on the lookout for, how Xcel in Minnesota operates and common scam tactics.
Lower monthly payments through PowerOn and the Gas Affordability Program
For households getting by on a limited income, this is the program with the most lasting effect. Through PowerOn for your electricity and the Gas Affordability Program for your natural gas, what you pay each month is set as an affordable share of your household income instead of the full bill. You make that lower payment, and Xcel applies a discount to cover part of the rest.
There is a second piece that helps a lot of people: if you are already behind, the program also puts a monthly credit toward your past-due balance, so the old debt shrinks while you stay current. To get on it, you first need to be approved for the state's Energy Assistance Program, then enroll through the Energy Cents Coalition, which runs the discounts for Xcel. One thing to watch — staying current is required, and falling behind on the agreed payment can drop you from the program for the rest of the year.
A built-in credit if your home uses little electricity
If your household qualifies on income and your home uses a relatively small amount of electricity, Xcel's Low-Usage Affordability Credit takes a percentage off the cost of the power you do use. For many people it happens on its own: if you receive an Energy Assistance grant (EAP in Minnesota), Xcel enrolls you automatically, and the credit simply shows up on your bill. Households on certain other state programs, such as Medical Assistance or SNAP, may be able to sign up by declaring that they qualify.
Extra help if someone in your home relies on medical equipment
Xcel offers lower-cost service for low- and fixed-income customers who depend on electrically powered medical equipment. Along with reducing your monthly bill, this help can go toward a past-due balance, which can be what stands between keeping equipment running and falling behind. It is worth asking about as soon as a medical need comes up, rather than waiting for the bill to become a problem.
Emergency help when you have a shut-off notice: HeatShare
When a crisis hits and you are facing disconnection, HeatShare can step in. Run by the Salvation Army and paid for largely by donations from Xcel and its customers, it is meant as a last resort once you already have a shut-off notice in hand. A grant can go toward your heating bill no matter how you heat — gas, electric, propane, oil, or wood — and it can also help pay for an emergency furnace repair. You can reach the Salvation Army's in your area - see the NHPB Salvation Army page for Minnesota.
A fuel fund for households that don't qualify for state aid: Reach Out for Warmth
Some families earn a little too much for the state's Energy Assistance Program but still struggle to keep up. Reach Out for Warmth exists for exactly that gap. Funded by donations and offered through local energy assistance agencies around Minnesota, it provides emergency help with an energy bill and can pay for furnace repair or replacement. You apply through a local agency, and the statewide line at 1-800-657-3710 can point you to the one nearest you.
Protection from winter shut-offs: the Cold Weather Rule
Minnesota's Cold Weather Rule is one of the strongest protections you have. During the cold-weather stretch from fall through spring, your electric or gas company cannot disconnect the service that heats your home — but only if you take the step that activates it.
You have to contact Xcel and set up a payment plan, then keep up with it. The plan is meant to reflect what you can actually afford relative to your income, not a demand for the full balance at once. If you receive a disconnection notice during these months, call Xcel right away instead of waiting, and they can also refer you to local assistance.
The state program behind the discounts: Energy Assistance
Several of the programs above trace back to the state's Energy Assistance Program, Minnesota's version of the federal LIHEAP. It puts grant money straight toward your heating costs, and being approved for it is also what unlocks the PowerOn, Gas Affordability, and low-usage discounts on your Xcel account. The same application can get you free weatherization, too, which makes your home cheaper to heat for good.
Because so much depends on being approved for it, applying is often the single most useful move, even if your bill feels okay right now. For the full details on what it covers, who qualifies, and how to apply, see our guide to Minnesota's Energy Assistance Program and weatherization. A local community action agency can take your application and help with the paperwork.
Be careful with "shut-off" threats over the phone
Cold weather is exactly when scammers go to work, because the fear of losing heat makes people act fast. A common one is a call claiming you will be disconnected today unless you pay right now with a gift card, a money-transfer app, or a prepaid card. That is not how Xcel operates. A real disconnection comes with written notice and a chance to set up a payment plan, and during Minnesota's cold-weather months you have added protection on top of that. Xcel will never demand instant payment by gift card to keep your lights or heat on. If a call pressures you, hang up and call Xcel yourself at the number printed on your bill to find out what, if anything, you actually owe.
How to take the first step
For Xcel's own programs and payment plans, call 1-800-895-4999 or sign in to your account at https://mn.my.xcelenergy.com/s/. To enroll in the PowerOn or Gas Affordability discounts once you are approved for Energy Assistance, the Energy Cents Coalition can be reached at 651-774-9010. And to apply for Energy Assistance, or to find the agency serving your county, call the statewide line at 1-800-657-3710.
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