Iowa’s cold weather rule ensures that customers will receive the natural gas they need to keep their homes warm through the winter even if they are not able to pay their monthly bill. November 1 through April 1, customers that apply for energy assistance and are approved by the community action agency are not subject to disconnection. With April 1 approaching, that protection will soon be ending.
    To keep gas flowing into their home Aquila is encouraging its customers to plan ahead and to seek help from the company. 
    “If any of our customers feel they may have a problem paying their utility bill, we want to encourage them to contact us to set up some type of payment arrangement,” said Marv Oppedal, Aquila Community Relations Manager. “There are a number of programs and local agencies that can provide assistance to those needing help.”
    Aquila customers can contact the company 24-hours a day, seven day a week to discuss payment arrangements. Customers seeking assistance can also contact their local community action agency to see if they qualify for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) or other assistance. “If needed, we can provide the name and phone number of local assistance agencies,” Oppedal said.
    For individuals wanting to assist those who need help in their community, Aquila offers the AquilaCares program that matches individual contributions. Aquila customers (residential or commercial) can contribute a dollar or two each month by checking the box on their statement or they can make a one-time contribution. These tax-deductible contributions are matched by Aquila then funds are sent back to the community agency serving the contributor’s community.
    In 2007, Aquila employees held numerous fundraising events for the AquilaCares  program in Iowa. They also worked with local businesses on other fundraising events. Altogether, Aquila matched customer and event contributions totaling over $95,000. All of these funds were used to help qualified customers pay for emergency heating and furnace repair bills.
    Aquila serves 147,000 customers in Iowa.