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A Newsletter of the District 1 Community Council
St. Paul, Minnesota
October 7, 2022 

 
Battle Creek | Conway  | Eastview | Highwood
The mission of the Southeast Community Organization (SECO) is to share knowledge and power, to organize and to advocate with the people who live and work in our neighborhoods.
We want to hear from you! 

Hello@Southeastside.org 

651-578-7600

www.southeastside.org

 
FIND US ON FACEBOOK
https://www.facebook.com/SoutheastCommunityOrganization

SunRay Shopping Center  
2105 1/2 Old Hudson Road St. Paul, MN 55119
Minnesota's Cold Weather Rule

Minnesota's Cold Weather Rule is starting earlier this year, on Saturday, October 1, 2022.

Minnesota’s Cold Weather Rule (CWR) is a state law that protects residential utility customers from having electric or natural gas service shut off between October 1 and April 30. The Minnesota Cold Weather Rule dictates that eligible residential energy customers are protected from service disconnection from October 1 through April 30, provided the disconnection would affect the customer’s primary heating source. The rule prohibits utility companies form turning off the heat for customers behind on their bills as long as a payment plan is set up. (Note this is not automatic, a payment plan must be set up with your utility company).


Shutoff Protections

To protect your service from disconnection you must make and keep a payment plan that you and your utility agree on. The utility must offer a payment plan that is reasonable for your household’s financial circumstances. You can set up a CWR payment plan any time during the CWR season.
You are eligible for CWR protection even if you rent – the electricity or gas must be the primary heat source and the utility account must be in your name.
You and your utility must agree to a payment plan that is reasonable for your household. You can set up a CWR payment plan any time during the CWR season.

For households with income at or below 50 percent of the state median household income, customers are not required to pay more than 10% of their household income each month toward their energy bill. Households over that income can also work out a payment plan.
All natural gas and electric utilities must offer CWR protection. CWR does not apply to delivered fuels; oil and propane or wood. If you use delivered fuels, and your furnace is run by electricity, you should apply for CWR protection with your electric company.
Call your natural gas, electric, municipal utility or electric cooperative for more information, or contact the Commission’s Consumer Affairs Office at consumer.puc@state.mn.us or  651-296-0406, 1-800-657-3782.
 
Help Paying Your Utility Bill

You may be eligible for help in paying your utility bill during the Cold Weather Rule season, October 1 to April 30.
  • Minnesota’s Energy Assistance Program (EAP) can help pay your natural gas and electric home heating bill. Contact the EAP team for assistance to apply, 1-800-657-3710. (See previous newsletter Housing Info Newsletter: Energy Assistance Program)
  • County Human Services County Human Services departments may assist with cash, emergency, food, housing, and medical assistance.
  • The Salvation Army HeatShare provides emergency utility assistance. 1-800-842-7279.
  • United Way 2-1-1 is a service that can help you find local resources. Dial 2-1-1 to be connected.

Minnesota natural gas and electric utilities may also have programs to help low income customers cover their utility bills.
  • Gas Affordability Program (GAP) If you receive Energy Assistance, you may qualify for GAP.  Contact your natural gas company for information.
  • Low Income Electric Rate Discount If you receive Energy Assistance, you may qualify help with your electric bill.  Contact your electric company for information.

CenterPoint Energy
To arrange a payment plan for winter months, CenterPoint Energy customers can call 800-245-2377 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, or visit CenterPointEnergy.com/Assistance.

Xcel Energy
Income-eligible customers who contact Xcel Energy for Cold Weather Rule protection can establish plans to make monthly payments not to exceed 10 percent of household income. Minnesota Cold Weather Rule | Xcel Energy

To avoid disconnection, customers who receive a notice of proposed disconnection must immediately contact the utility and commit to a payment plan. 
Spooktacular is back! We're putting organizing this fun event for 2022 and we're so excited to bring the neighborhood together for some safe trick-or-treating and community engagement.

Spooktacular will be on October 29th from 1-4 in the Sun Ray shopping center.

The more volunteers we have, the more spectacular Spooktacular will be! We need help setting up and decorating Sun Ray the morning of the event, staffing activities during the event, and taking down tables and decorations after the event. If you can volunteer, please fill out this form to let us know how you'd like to help!

You are invited: Environmental Service Center open houses

Ramsey County plans to build a new facility to provide more opportunities for residents to reduce, reuse, repair and recycle. The facility is part of Enhancing Environmental Health Services, a county initiative to redesign household hazardous waste services and add recycling and waste disposal opportunities to better meet community needs.

Join us for our community open house events to learn more, provide feedback and ask questions about how this new facility could meet the needs of your community.

All residents, organizations and businesses of Ramsey County are encouraged to attend. Please join us for one or more of the following dates.

Virtual (via Zoom)

Tuesday, October 18,  5 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Zoom meeting link

In-Person
Wednesday, October 12,  5 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Ramsey County Library – Roseville
2180 Hamline Ave. N., Roseville

Monday, October 24,  5 p.m. – 7 p.m.
New Life Presbyterian Church
965 Larpenteur Ave. W., Roseville

Can’t make it to one of the open houses? Learn more about the project, provide feedback or ask questions via an online form on the Environmental Service Center page.

Vote Before Election Day

Anyone eligible to vote in Ramsey County may cast their absentee ballot before the Nov. 8 general election. Voters can cast their ballot through Nov. 7.

Voting by mail is easy and convenient. Complete the online request form to have an absentee ballot mailed to your home. You may also return your completed ballot by mail or in person at a ballot return site.

More information at ramseycounty.us/VoteBeforeElectionDay
 

Absentee voting locations

Ramsey County voters may vote in person by using an absentee ballot. Eligible voters may visit any location, regardless of their home address. Ballots do not need to be requested in advance.

Note: Saint Anthony-Hennepin County residents may cast an absentee ballot in Ramsey County only at the Plato Building or Ramsey County Library - Roseville

Locations open Sept. 23 - Nov. 7

Locations open Nov. 1 - Nov. 7

These locations are open:

  • Nov. 1 - 4: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Nov. 5: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. (Saturday)
  • Nov. 7: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

 

Highland Park Water Tower Open House

Saint Paul Water Regional Water Services is pleased to announce the fall open house at the historic Highland Park water tower. The tower doors will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 8 - 9.

The water tower is a Highland neighborhood landmark located at the intersection of Snelling Avenue and Ford Parkway. Admission is free and open to the public. Visitors are invited to climb the 151-step staircase inside the tower to the observation deck. The deck offers stunning views of the Highland area, the Twin Cities, and the Mississippi River, providing an excellent opportunity for photographs and a fun family outing.

The tower, which was designed by Clarence Wigington, was completed in 1928. Wigington, a city of Saint Paul architect from 1915 to 1949, also designed many other important structures in the area including the Saint Paul Public Safety Building (1929–30) and Como Park Pavilion (1934). The construction of the Highland water tower includes facings of Kasota and Bedford stone. A collection of several original Highland tower blueprints, many of which bear Wigington’s signature, will be on display inside the tower.

The open house is designed to inform residents about the many aspects of municipal water utilities. This includes efforts to preserve and protect water resources, the utility’s water purification process, and overview of the distribution system. Utility employees will be on hand to answer questions and provide information about utility services.

For more information, please contact Saint Paul Regional Water Services at 651-266-6350.

Interested in getting more involved
with your community?

 
​Our board has a few vacancies to fill. If you would like an application, have any questions or would like to know more about being a board member, please reach out to  SECOboard@southeastside.org
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Southeast Community Organization · 2105 1/2 Old Hudson Road · St. Paul, Minnesota 55119 · USA

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