Wisconsin

WIStrong

Days notice (electric)

Days notice (gas)

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Winter moratorium

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Medical exemption

What to do today

If you have a shutoff notice, the date on it is the one that matters. These steps work best in this order.

Call your utility before the date on your notice
Ask for a payment plan or a deferred payment arrangement. Most states require your utility to offer one, and asking before the date is what keeps your service on. The number is on your bill.
Apply for energy assistance
LIHEAP helps with utility bills and does not have to be paid back. Call the national referral line on 1-866-674-6327 weekdays 9am to 7pm Eastern, or visit energyhelp.us.
Dial 211 for local help
211 is free and connects you to local funds for utilities, rent and food. Some local agencies can pay a utility directly to stop a shutoff.
Ask about medical certification
Wisconsin recognises medical protections. If anyone in your home has a serious illness or relies on powered medical equipment, a note from a doctor can delay a shutoff. Ask your utility for the form today, because it usually has to be back within days.
Contact the regulator if your utility will not work with you
psc.wi.gov handles complaints against regulated utilities in Wisconsin. Filing one can pause a disconnection while it is looked at.

Electric Gas Water Medical Low Income Regulator

Electric Shutoff Rules

Regulatory notice required10 days

Reconnection feeVaries by utility

Winter moratorium: November 1–April 15: utilities prohibited from disconnecting residential service used for home heating for nonpayment. Statewide — applies to all residential heating customers, not income-limited. If disconnection not executed within 20 days of the notice issuance, a subsequent notice must be left on premises not less than 24 hours nor more than 48 hours before disconnection. Medical emergency delays shutoff for up to 21 days.

Major Utilities

WE Energies (Wisc…Madison Gas and E…Alliant Energy / …Xcel Energy (Nort…

WE Energies (Wisconsin Electric Power Company)

Southeastern Wisconsin (Milwaukee, Waukesha, Racine, Kenosha areas) and Upper Peninsula of Michigan

10-day notice

No disconnection Nov 1–Apr 15 (winter moratorium) unless premise is vacant

During moratorium, disconnection only permitted if gross quarterly household income exceeds 250% federal poverty guidelines and health/safety not endangered

Medical/protective services emergency: utility must postpone disconnection 21 days upon physician or public health official statement

Governed by Wisconsin PSC Chapter 113

10 days written notice by first class mail required before disconnection for nonpayment

No disconnection on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, holidays, or days when utility staff are not available 24 hrs to negotiate reconnection

postponement renewable

Payment plan (Deferred Payment Agreement) must be offered before disconnection

Service reconnected next business day after payment received

Reconnection fee exists per tariff Schedule X-235 but dollar amount not confirmed from accessible primary source (tariff PDF binary-unreadable)

contact 800-242-9137 for current amount

Assistance Programs

Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program (WHEAP/LIHEAP) — heating and electric assistance for income-qualified households; apply at homeenergyplus.wi.gov or energyandhousing.wi.gov. Keep Wisconsin Warm/Cool Fund (KWWF) — emergency assistance for vulnerable households; kwwf.org. Wisconsin Public Benefits Fund — collected via utility bill, supports low-income energy assistance and weatherization.

"Disconnection Rules | We Energies." we-energies.com. Retrieved 19 May 2026.

Madison Gas and Electric (MG&E)

Dane County (Madison area), Wisconsin

10-day notice

No disconnection Nov 1–Apr 15 (winter moratorium) for occupied residences

During moratorium, disconnection only where gross quarterly income exceeds 250% federal poverty guidelines and health/safety not endangered

Medical/protective services emergency: utility must postpone disconnection 21 days upon physician or public health official statement

Admin

Code PSC 113.0301 governs residential electric disconnection: a utility may not disconnect 'unless written notice is sent to the customer by first class mail or personally served on a responsible adult member of the household at least 10 calendar days prior to the day of the proposed disconnection', and a residential customer has 'at least 20 days from the date of issuance of the bill to provide payment' before the account may be treated as delinquent

Governed by Wisconsin PSC Chapter 113

10 days written notice by first class mail required before disconnection for nonpayment

No disconnection on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, holidays, or days when utility staff are not available 24 hrs

postponement renewable

Deferred Payment Agreements available

customers pay current bill plus portion of past-due balance monthly

Budget Payment Plan available to spread costs over 12 months

Electric Rates and Rules Volume 4 (01/01/2026) references a reconnection fee of $84.00 (regular business hours) / $168.00 (all other times) described as 'reconnection at pole/meter cutout'

this appears to be an overhead line reconnect, not the standard meter-side reconnect fee for nonpayment — standard reconnect fee amount not separately confirmed

contact MGE at 608-252-7000

Assistance Programs

Back on Track — MGE program offering financial assistance for customers with limited income or health-related energy needs with past-due balances; requires prior energy assistance within 2 years; call 608-252-7000. Energy Services Inc. (ESI)/WHEAP — income-qualified assistance (2025–2026 income limits: 1 person $38,421; 2 people $50,243; 3 people $62,065; 4 people $73,888); apply at esi.help or 1-800-506-5596. Keep Wisconsin Warm/Cool Fund: 1-800-891-9276. Budget Payment Plan for even monthly costs.

"Wis. Admin. Code PSC 113.0301, Disconnection of residential electric service, via Cornell LII." law.cornell.edu. Retrieved 20 Sep 2026.

Alliant Energy / Wisconsin Power and Light (WPL)

Central and eastern Wisconsin

10-day notice

No disconnection Nov 1–Apr 15 (winter moratorium) for residential heating service

Heat advisory/warning/emergency also prohibits disconnection

Medical hardship: customers may request 30-day extension

doctor or public health official must contact Alliant to verify medical risk

Governed by Wisconsin PSC Chapter 113

10 days written notice required before disconnection for nonpayment

Customers with remote-connect meters reconnected same day after payment

others next business day

Deferred Payment Agreements available via My Account portal

Budget Billing and Fixed Amount Bill plans available

Reconnection charge per the current Wisconsin Electric Schedule of Rates is $20.00 during business hours and $58.00 after hours

the $30/$70 figures previously shown here do not appear in that tariff and have been corrected

Reconnection fee:$20.00 for reconnection during regular business hours; $58.00 after regular business hours (plus the minimum monthly bill for months service was not used)

Assistance Programs

WHEAP/LIHEAP — heating and electric assistance; apply at energyandhousing.wi.gov. Arrears Management Program — auto-enrolled for WHEAP-approved customers; forgives 25% of past-due balance plus additional forgiveness with each on-time payment over 12 months. Hometown Care Energy Fund — up to $200 toward a single bill for income-qualified households; distributed by Energy Services Inc. based on available funding. Keep Wisconsin Warm/Cool Fund — kwwf.org or call 211.

"Wisconsin Power and Light (Alliant Energy) Wisconsin Electric Schedule of Rates." alliantenergy.com. Retrieved 21 Sep 2026.

Xcel Energy (Northern States Power — Wisconsin)

Northwestern Wisconsin, primarily Eau Claire area

10-day notice

Winter moratorium Nov 1–Apr 15: service not disconnected for residential heating during this period

Medical/protective services emergency: 21-day postponement upon physician or public health official statement

Governed by Wisconsin PSC Chapter 113

10 days written notice required before disconnection for nonpayment

Customers past-due after April 15 without payment arrangements risk disconnection

No disconnection on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, holidays, or days when utility staff are not available 24 hrs

Deferred Payment Agreements available

call 1-800-895-4999

Fall reconnection plan required — utility must attempt to contact premises disconnected for nonpayment in past 12 months about payment options

Assistance Programs

WHEAP/LIHEAP — heating and electric assistance for income-qualified households; apply at energyandhousing.wi.gov. Residential Arrears Assistance Program (RAAP) — launched 2026, one-time annual bill credit for WHEAP recipients carrying qualifying past-due balance. Keep Wisconsin Warm/Cool Fund. Wisconsin Low-Income Assistance Charge program. Call 211 for local assistance resources.

"Wis. Admin. Code PSC 113.0301, Disconnection of residential electric service, via Cornell LII." law.cornell.edu. Retrieved 21 Sep 2026.

Gas Shutoff Rules

Regulatory notice required8 days

Reconnection fee$20 to $42 standard, at 3 of 3 utilities below

Major Utilities

WE Energies (Wisc…Madison Gas and E…Alliant Energy / …

WE Energies (Wisconsin Electric Power Company — Gas Operations)

Southeastern Wisconsin (Milwaukee, Waukesha, Racine, Kenosha areas)

8-day notice

PSC 134.062,' rather than specifying a longer period of its own the way Alliant's gas tariff does. (A separate 'eight calendar days' clause elsewhere in the same tariff governs a narrower case — disconnection for noncompliance with gas-heating energy-conservation standards under PSC 136.04 — and is not the general nonpayment notice period.) No disconnection Nov 1–Apr 15 (winter moratorium) for occupied residences where gas provides primary heat

During moratorium, disconnection only where gross quarterly income exceeds 250% federal poverty guidelines and health/safety not endangered

Medical/protective services emergency: 21-day postponement upon physician or public health official statement

Wisconsin sets separate notice periods for gas and electric

Gas falls under Wis

Admin

Code PSC 134.062(8)(a), which requires written notice 'at least 8 calendar days prior to the day of the proposed disconnection'

electric falls under PSC 113.0301(10)(a), which sets 10 days — that is why this row's notice period is shorter than the electric row above

This is not a stale figure: We Energies' own PSC-filed gas tariff (Volume XVI) does not commit to more than the state floor — its “Collection Action” and “Connection or Discontinuance of Service” sheets both state that gas disconnection is handled 'in a manner consistent with all conditions, guidelines, rules and requirements of the Wisconsin Administrative Code s

No disconnection on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, holidays, or days when utility staff not available 24 hrs to negotiate reconnection

Deferred Payment Agreements must be offered

Service reconnected next business day after payment

Disconnection and reconnection fees are $36 per meter during regular work hours and $48 per meter otherwise, confirmed directly from the tariff's Schedule X-235

Reconnection fee:$36 per meter during regular work hours; $48 per meter for other than regular work hours (Schedule X-235)

Assistance Programs

Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program (WHEAP/LIHEAP) — heating assistance for income-qualified households; apply at homeenergyplus.wi.gov. Keep Wisconsin Warm/Cool Fund (KWWF) — emergency assistance for vulnerable households; kwwf.org. Wisconsin Public Benefits Fund for low-income energy assistance and weatherization.

"Wisconsin Electric — Gas Operations Gas Service Tariff Book, Volume XVI (Schedules X-235, X-330)." we-energies.com. Retrieved 21 Sep 2026.

Madison Gas and Electric (MG&E — Natural Gas)

Dane County (Madison area), Wisconsin

8-day notice

No disconnection Nov 1–Apr 15 (winter moratorium) for occupied residences where gas provides primary heat

During moratorium, disconnection only where gross quarterly income exceeds 250% federal poverty guidelines and health/safety not endangered

Medical/protective services emergency: 21-day postponement upon physician or public health official statement

Wisconsin sets separate notice periods for gas and electric

Gas falls under Wis

Admin

Code PSC 134.062(8)(a), which requires written notice 'at least 8 calendar days prior to the day of the proposed disconnection'

electric falls under PSC 113.0301(10)(a), which sets 10 days — that is why this row's notice period is shorter than the electric row above

MGE's own filed gas tariff (“Gas Rules and Regulations: General Information,” Sheet G-45.3, File No

3270) confirms this rather than overriding it: its “DISCONNECTION OF SERVICE” clause reads, for residential service, 'see Wis

Admin

Code § PSC 134.062,' rather than specifying a longer period of its own the way Alliant's gas tariff does. (MGE's general customer brochure, “Your Guide to Electric and Natural Gas Service,” states a rounded 'at least 10 days' for service disconnection generally — that figure matches the electric floor and is not repeated in the actual filed gas tariff, so the tariff's 8-day figure is used here.) A separate 'eight-day notice of disconnection' clause elsewhere in the same tariff governs a narrower case — disconnection following meter tampering or diversion of service — and is not the general nonpayment notice period

No disconnection on Fridays, Saturdays, or holidays

Deferred Payment Agreements available

Budget Payment Plan available

Reconnection charge is $42 during business hours (8 a.m.–4:30 p.m

Mon–Fri, excluding holidays) and $63 at all other times, confirmed directly from the tariff

Reconnection fee:$42 (8 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Mon–Fri, excluding holidays); $63 all other times

Assistance Programs

Back on Track — MGE program for customers with limited income or health-related energy needs with past-due balances; call 608-252-7000. ESI/WHEAP — income-qualified assistance; apply at esi.help or 1-800-506-5596. Keep Wisconsin Warm/Cool Fund: 1-800-891-9276. Budget Payment Plan.

"Madison Gas and Electric Company Gas Rates and Rules, First Revised Volume 2 (Sheet G-45.3, Disconnection of Service)." mge.com. Retrieved 21 Sep 2026.

Alliant Energy / Wisconsin Power and Light (WPL — Natural Gas)

Central and eastern Wisconsin

10-day notice

No disconnection Nov 1–Apr 15 (winter moratorium) for residential heating service

Medical hardship: 30-day extension available

doctor or public health official must contact Alliant

Corrected 2026-09-21

Wisconsin's administrative code sets a floor of 8 calendar days' notice for gas disconnection (Wis

Admin

Code PSC 134.062) versus 10 for electric (PSC 113.0301), but a utility's own PSC-approved tariff can commit to more than the floor

Alliant's own tariff, Schedule Xr-4 (Rules and Regulations Applicable to Electric and Gas Service, Amendment 691), requires 'written notice by first class mail... at least 10 calendar days prior to the first date of the proposed disconnection' for both electric and gas alike, and if disconnection is not carried out within 20 days of that notice a follow-up notice must be posted 24-48 hours before disconnection

A prior pass on this row set notice_days to the 8-day state floor

corrected back to 10 because that is what Alliant's own filed tariff actually commits to for its gas customers, which is the number that matters to an Alliant customer

Deferred Payment Agreements available

Budget Billing and Fixed Amount Bill plans available

Reconnection charge is $20.00 during business hours and $58.00 after hours, not the $30/$70 previously shown (which were stale figures from an earlier revision)

Reconnection fee:$20.00 for reconnection during regular business hours; $58.00 after regular business hours (plus the minimum monthly bill for months service was not used)

Assistance Programs

WHEAP/LIHEAP — heating assistance; apply at energyandhousing.wi.gov. Arrears Management Program — 25% past-due balance forgiveness for WHEAP-enrolled customers. Hometown Care Energy Fund — up to $200 per bill for income-qualified households. Keep Wisconsin Warm/Cool Fund — kwwf.org or call 211.

"Wisconsin Power and Light (Alliant Energy) Wisconsin Natural Gas Rates." alliantenergy.com. Retrieved 21 Sep 2026.

Water Shutoff Rules

Regulatory notice requiredNot regulated / varies

Major Utilities

Milwaukee Water W…Madison Water Uti…

Milwaukee Water Works

City of Milwaukee, Wisconsin

PSC Chapter 185 framework (10-day notice, Nov 1–Apr 15 moratorium for water used as heat source, 21-day medical postponement) is theoretically applicable but moot given no-shutoff policy

Milwaukee Water Works is a municipal utility regulated by the Wisconsin PSC under Chapter 185 for rates, but has an exceptional nonpayment policy: Milwaukee Water Works does NOT shut off water service for nonpayment

Past-due amounts that remain delinquent for 180 days as of October 1 are transferred to the property tax bill with a 10% transfer fee

Customers with past-due balances up to $1,500 may enroll in interest-free PromisePay installment plans at milwaukee.promise-pay.com

Assistance Programs

PromisePay — interest-free installment payment plans for past-due balances up to $1,500; enroll at milwaukee.promise-pay.com. Wisconsin Low Income Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) — one-time payments up to $2,000 toward past-due water/wastewater bills for income-qualified households; apply at wisconsinwater.help. Milwaukee Water Works Affordability and Support resources available at city.milwaukee.gov/water/customer/Affordability-and-Support.

"PromisePay — Milwaukee Water Works Payment Plans FAQ." milwaukee.promise-pay.com. Retrieved 19 May 2026.

Madison Water Utility

City of Madison, Wisconsin

10-day notice

Water used as a heat source cannot be disconnected Nov 1–Apr 15 (winter moratorium)

Medical/protective services emergency: 21-day postponement upon physician or public health official statement

Madison Water Utility is a municipal utility regulated by the Wisconsin PSC under Chapter 185 (Wis

PSC Docket 3280-WR-116)

PSC Chapter 185 governs disconnection: 10 days written notice by first class mail required before disconnection for nonpayment

Utility cannot back-bill for service charges upon reconnection

Schedule R-1 reconnection charge applies upon reconnection

specific dollar amount not confirmed in documents accessed — contact Madison Water Utility at 608-266-4641

Deferred Payment Agreements available

Assistance Programs

MadCAP (Madison Customer Assistance Program) — monthly credit of up to $30 on Municipal Services Bills for income-qualified households (at or below 50% of area median income; e.g., 1-person household income limit $45,450/yr; 4-person $64,900/yr); qualifying for FoodShare/Section 8/SNAP/WIC also qualifies. Annual application required; apply online at cityofmadison.com/water/billing-rates/madcap. Wisconsin Low Income Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) — up to $2,000 toward past-due water bills; apply at wisconsinwater.help.

"Madison Customer Assistance Program (MadCAP) | City of Madison, WI." cityofmadison.com. Retrieved 19 May 2026.

Medical & Vulnerable Household Exemptions

If disconnection will aggravate a medical or protective services emergency, utility may delay service shutoff for up to 21 days. PSC 113 rules govern medical protections.

Low-Income Protections

Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program (WHEAP) / LIHEAP available. We Energies, WPS, and Alliant Energy offer low-income assistance programs. Wisconsin PSC oversees all investor-owned utility disconnection practices.

Your State Regulator

File a complaint or get help from Wisconsin's utility regulator →

Data last verified: 2026-09-21. Rules may change — verify with your state regulator.