Texas Winter Shutoff Rules 2026: What Protects You

The forecast says 28°F tonight. The notice in your mailbox says your power could be cut soon. Can both be true? Yes, and that's what makes this so stressful.

Texas does protect some households from a winter shutoff. But the protection is narrower than most people think, and it works one day at a time. Below, you'll find the 32°F test, the weekend rule, your right to a payment plan, and a short list of who to call first. Whether you live in Frisco, Denton, or anywhere else in the state, the first move is usually the same: pick up the phone.

Quick Answer: Can Texas Cut Your Power in Winter?

  • Cold-day shield: No nonpayment shutoff when yesterday's high was 32°F or lower and the forecast holds there for 24 hours
  • Weekends: State law also bars covered residential shutoffs on weekend days
  • The catch: No winter-long ban, and your balance does not go away
  • First move: Ask your provider for a deferred payment plan

Does Texas Have a Winter Electricity Shutoff Ban?

No. Texas has no blanket moratorium from November through March. A provider can still go forward with a lawful disconnection for nonpayment when no protection applies.

What Texas has is a weather-based rule. It lives in 16 Texas Administrative Code § 25.483, and it works alongside Texas Utilities Code § 39.101. On a qualifying day, a retail electric provider (REP) cannot authorize a nonpayment disconnection in that county.

The state has gone further only in rare emergencies. After Winter Storm Uri in February 2021, the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC) paused disconnections for utilities under its authority until June. That was a one-time order. Don't plan around a repeat.

Protection What Triggers It What It Does Not Do
Extreme cold ban Previous day's high at or below 32°F, with the forecast holding for the next 24 hours Does not erase your bill. Ends when the weather warms up.
Weekend limit Any Saturday or Sunday. The disconnection date on a notice also can't be a weekend or holiday. Does not block a weekday shutoff after the weekend.
Advance notice Written notice with a disconnection date at least 10 days out Does not pause anything once the date arrives and nothing has been arranged.
Deferred payment plan You ask. Providers must offer one for bills that come due during an extreme weather emergency. Does not cancel the debt. A switch-hold may apply.
Medical designation A physician files the PUC form with your delivery utility Not a permanent shutoff ban. It has steps and an end date.

Which Customers Do These Rules Cover?

It depends on who sends your bill. Section 25.483 governs retail electric providers in the competitive market. In most of Collin County, the company that delivers the power is Oncor, and you pick a separate retail provider. Co-ops and city-owned utilities write their own disconnection policies. Some are generous in a freeze. Others aren't. You won't know until you ask.

What Your Bill Shows You Are Probably On Whose Rules Apply
A retail provider name, plus a delivery company such as Oncor The competitive market PUC rule 25.483 (covered in this article)
A bill from a co-op, such as CoServ An electric cooperative The co-op's own policy
A bill from your city, often with water A municipal utility The city's own policy
💡 EasySmart Tip for Texas Residents: Read the name at the top of your bill before you rely on any general explanation. If it's a co-op or a city, call member services and ask four things: their cold-weather shutoff policy, whether they accept a doctor's certification, how long a payment plan can run, and whether an assistance pledge holds off a disconnection.

The Texas 32°F Winter Shutoff Rule Explained

The 32°F line is the heart of the cold-weather rule. But it doesn't say power can never be cut when the thermometer hits freezing. It's a two-part test, and both parts must be true.

  1. The previous day's highest temperature did not go above 32°F.
  2. The temperature is forecast to stay at or below 32°F for the next 24 hours, based on the nearest National Weather Service reports for the county.

Most people miss this part. The test looks at yesterday's high, not last night's low. A day that starts at 19°F and climbs to 41°F does not count. North Texas swings fast, so a brutal morning can still end in the 40s, and a provider may legally order a disconnection that same week.

Weather Situation Does the Cold-Weather Test Look Met?
Yesterday's high was 28°F, and the forecast stays at or below 32°F for the next 24 hours Yes. Both parts are met.
Yesterday's high was 40°F, but tonight's low is forecast at 25°F No. Yesterday's high was above 32°F.
A brief dip below freezing that doesn't hold for 24 hours No. A short freeze alone doesn't meet the test.
A warm Monday (high of 58°F), then a cold front, then a Tuesday forecast that stays below freezing Not on Tuesday, because Monday's high was above 32°F. Wednesday may qualify if the cold holds.

These examples show how the legal test works. They don't prove whether a specific shutoff was lawful. Your county, your type of service, and your account all matter.

⚠️ Important Note: Under the 2026 version of the rule, the first day of a cold snap often doesn't count. Check your county forecast at weather.gov, then call your provider about a payment plan the same day you get the notice. If the weather buys you two days, good. It's still only two days.

Can Your Electricity Be Shut Off on a Weekend in Texas?

For covered customers, no. Texas Utilities Code § 39.101(h) bars a covered provider from disconnecting residential service on a weekend day. The notice rules add a second layer: the disconnection date printed on your notice cannot fall on a weekend or holiday.

That protection can feel bigger than it is. Your account may still be disconnected on a later weekday if the balance is unpaid and nothing else applies.

What the Notice Says What to Do
A Saturday, Sunday, or holiday date Call the provider. Ask it to explain the date and the rule behind it.
A Monday date Treat it as real. A protected weekend just before it doesn't cancel the notice.
A weekday date during a freeze Check the weather test, but still request a payment plan right away.

Does Winter Shutoff Protection Cancel Your Electric Bill?

No. A weather rule can stop a covered disconnection while the conditions last. It does not forgive what you owe. Your usage keeps adding to the balance. Heating season is when that balance tends to climb the fastest.

Once the protection ends, the provider may resume the disconnection process if the account is still past due. That's why waiting for warmer weather is risky. Use the pause to work on the balance.

The Deferred Payment Plan Right During Extreme Weather

Under § 25.483(j), a residential customer can request a deferred payment plan for bills that come due during a qualifying weather emergency. The plan has to meet the requirements in § 25.480.

Payment Plan Detail What to Know
Who must be asked Your retail provider, at the number on your bill
What to say "I'd like a deferred payment plan under the extreme weather rule."
Typical terms PUC guidance has described a first payment of no more than half the balance, with the rest spread over at least five billing cycles. Confirm the exact terms for your account.
While you keep the plan The provider can't disconnect you for the covered balance
Trade-off The provider may block you from switching companies until the plan is paid off

Don't assume a regular payment extension and a weather-based plan have the same terms. Ask for the amount, the due dates, and any conditions in writing.

Got a Winter Disconnection Notice? Do These Six Things in Order

A notice does not mean your lights go out tomorrow. Covered providers have to give advance notice, and the disconnection can't happen before the day after the date printed on it. The notice should also state the reason, the amount owed, how to avoid disconnection, how to reach the provider, and where to file a complaint with the PUC.

Still, don't sit on it. Start the day it arrives.

Step What to Do Why It Matters
1. Read the notice Find the disconnection date, the amount owed, and the steps to stop it The date and amount drive everything else
2. Call your provider Ask whether a disconnection order has been sent and whether it can be put on hold The provider is the one that can stop the order
3. Check the weather Compare your county forecast at weather.gov to the 32°F test You'll know if the cold-day shield applies today
4. Ask for a payment plan Request the deferred plan, including the weather provision if it applies Customers who keep up with a plan can't be disconnected
5. Line up assistance Dial 211, then ask whether an agency can send a payment pledge A pledge can shrink the balance you owe
6. Keep records Save the notice, emails, and the date, time, and rep's name from every call Written proof helps if a dispute comes up

If part of the charge looks wrong, pay the portion you agree with and dispute the rest in writing. Under the PUC rule, a provider may not disconnect over a disputed charge while the dispute is still being resolved.

If the provider says the shutoff will go ahead despite a protection you think applies, ask for the specific reason in writing. Then contact the Public Utility Commission's Consumer Protection Division at 1-888-782-8477 or consumer@puc.texas.gov.

Who to Call First: Winter Shutoff Cheat Sheet

Each organization does a different job. Calling the wrong one costs you a day you may not have.

Your Situation Call First What to Say or Ask
Disconnection notice arrived Your retail provider "I'd like a deferred payment plan."
Freeze forecast and a past-due balance Your retail provider Ask if your county is under a cold-weather hold today, then ask for a plan anyway
Someone relies on electric medical equipment or electric heat The doctor first, then your delivery utility (Oncor in most of Collin County) The doctor completes the PUC form. Ask your provider to confirm it arrived.
Prepaid balance hit zero Your prepaid provider Ask for a payment plan once the cold spell ends, and ask about the request deadline
You're on a co-op or city plan Your co-op or city utility office Ask for their cold-weather policy and payment options
You need money to pay the bill 211, then the local energy assistance agency Mention the disconnection notice. Funds are limited, so apply early.
Provider refuses help or cut power on a protected day PUC Consumer Protection Division File a complaint after you've tried the provider

Medical Conditions and Winter Shutoff Protection

Some households get extra protection when losing power could seriously harm someone's health. Texas rules set up two tiers. A general statement that someone is older, disabled, or sick doesn't automatically qualify. The rules have specific definitions and paperwork.

Designation Who It Covers How Long It Lasts
Critical Care Residential Customer Someone in the home relies on an electric-powered device to stay alive 2 years, renewable
Chronic Condition Residential Customer Someone needs an electric device, or electric heating or cooling, to avoid losing a major life function 90 days, or up to 1 year if the doctor certifies a lifelong condition

The process runs through the doctor. The physician completes the PUC's form and sends it to your delivery utility. If it lands at your retail provider first, the provider must forward it within two business days.

Critical Care status is not a permanent promise that power stays on. For a customer who is behind on the bill, three things have to happen before the disconnection date. The doctor contacts the provider. The doctor sends a written statement. And you enter a deferred payment plan. Put the renewal date on your calendar, too. An expired designation protects no one.

If anyone in your home depends on electric medical equipment, build a backup plan before the next freeze. Ask the equipment supplier or the doctor what to do during an outage. In a medical emergency, call 911.

A Realistic Example: Freeze Forecast, Past-Due Notice

This family is made up, but the situation is common. Elena and Marcus live in McKinney with two kids. In early January, their provider sends a notice. They owe $412, and the disconnection date is a Tuesday in mid-January.

A cold front arrives the weekend before. Sunday's high is 30°F, and Monday's forecast stays under freezing too. Elena checks the rule and relaxes a little. Then she looks at Tuesday. The high is 44°F, and the weather protection is gone.

On Monday morning she calls the provider and asks for a deferred payment plan. She agrees to a first payment, gets the schedule by email, then dials 211 and mentions the notice. The family keeps its power. The freeze wasn't the reason. The phone call was.

Where Collin and Denton County Households Can Get Help With Overdue Electric Bills

Don't wait for a cold snap to start looking. Assistance programs have their own application periods, income limits, and paperwork, and funds can run out.

The federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps states support eligible households with energy costs. In Texas, local agencies run the program, so the agency name, funding, and process vary by address. Start at the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, or dial 211. Our Collin County CEAP guide and Texas LIHEAP guide cover the application step by step.

Questions to Ask the Local Agency Before You Go

Ask This Why
Do you handle utility bills, and are you taking applications now? Some offices pause intake when funds run low
Does my ZIP code fall in your service area? Some agencies serve only certain cities or ZIP codes
Can you contact my provider directly and send a pledge? A pledge may change what you owe
Will a pledge or application stop my disconnection date? An application alone doesn't guarantee service stays on. Confirm with the provider.

Documents to Have Ready

  • A recent electric bill showing the provider name and account number
  • Government-issued photo ID, if the agency asks for it
  • Proof of household income for the period requested
  • Names and details for everyone in the household
  • Your disconnection notice, if you have one
  • Any forms the local agency requires

Requirements differ by program, so check the agency's current instructions before you hand over personal documents.

What Texas Winter Shutoff Rules Do Not Guarantee

Common Assumption What's Actually True
"Power can't be cut all winter." No winter-long ban exists. Protection depends on the weather test and other rules.
"The freeze wipes out what I owe." The balance stays. Your usage keeps adding to it.
"I applied for help, so I'm safe." Approval depends on eligibility and funding. An application alone doesn't stop a shutoff.
"These rules cover my gas and water too." The PUC electric rules cover electric service. Gas and city water follow other policies, so ask those companies directly.
"Prepaid plans work the same way." Prepaid providers can't start a shutoff during an extreme weather emergency, but the power you use still becomes a balance. Ask your provider about the deadline to request a plan.

Frequently Asked Questions About Texas Winter Shutoffs

Q: Can electricity be shut off in Texas when it is 32 degrees?

A: It depends. The cold-weather protection needs a previous-day high of 32°F or lower and a forecast that stays at or below 32°F for the next 24 hours. A cold night after a warmer day doesn't meet it.

Q: Does Texas stop electricity shutoffs all winter?

A: No. Texas has no general November-through-March ban on residential shutoffs. The law protects customers during specific weather emergencies and in other set circumstances, so check the actual conditions instead of assuming.

Q: Can my electricity be disconnected on Saturday or Sunday in Texas?

A: For covered customers, no. Texas Utilities Code § 39.101(h) bars residential disconnections on weekend days, and the date on your notice can't fall on a weekend or holiday. If your notice lists one, call the provider and ask it to explain.

Q: How much notice does a Texas electric company have to give before disconnecting?

A: The written notice must list a disconnection date at least 10 days out. The provider can't disconnect before the day after that date, and the date can't land on a weekend or holiday.

Q: Will a deferred payment plan stop a winter shutoff?

A: While you keep up with the plan, a covered provider can't disconnect you for that balance. Weather-emergency plans apply to bills that come due during the emergency. Call the provider, ask for the plan, and confirm in writing how it affects your account.

Q: Can a utility shut off power if someone in the home has a medical condition?

A: Some households qualify for extra protection through the critical-care or chronic-condition designations. A doctor has to complete the paperwork, and the protection has conditions and time limits. Start early.

Q: Does applying for Texas utility assistance automatically prevent a shutoff?

A: No. Ask the agency whether it can issue a payment pledge, then call your provider to confirm how the pledge affects your account and disconnection date. Keep your notice either way, since some agencies look for it when they set priority.

Q: Do co-ops and city utilities follow the same winter shutoff rules?

A: Not under the PUC's rule for retail electric providers. Co-ops and municipal utilities set their own policies. Call yours and ask about cold-weather disconnections and payment plans.

Q: What if the power company cut my service on a freezing day?

A: Check the National Weather Service forecast and observed highs for your county on that date. If the day met the 32°F test, contact your provider first, then file a complaint with the PUC. Providers have paid penalties for ordering disconnections on protected days, so these complaints do get attention.

Our Take: The Freeze Rule Is a Safety Net, Not a Plan

Texas wrote the 32°F rule for the harshest days of winter, and on those days it works. The problem is how narrow it is. One mild afternoon and the protection is gone, while the bill stays right where it was.

That's why waiting on the weather is the wrong bet. The better move is the phone call. Ask for the payment plan, get the terms in writing, and line up assistance while you still have time. Act early, and the next cold front matters a lot less.

Key Takeaways

  • Texas has no winter-long shutoff ban. Protection depends on the weather, one day at a time.
  • The cold test needs a previous-day high of 32°F or lower and a forecast that holds for 24 hours.
  • Weekends are protected for covered customers, but a Monday shutoff date still counts.
  • These rules cover retail electric providers. Co-ops and city utilities set their own.
  • A deferred payment plan is your strongest move, and it starts with one call.
  • Medical and electric-heat needs have a formal designation, but your doctor has to file it.

Source: Public Utility Commission of Texas Official Website (.gov)

Official Sources

Last checked: October 2026. Rules and program details can change. Confirm current requirements with the PUC and your provider before you act on a pending disconnection.

Editorial Note

EasySmartHub is an independent informational resource. We are not affiliated with the Public Utility Commission of Texas, any electric provider, or any government agency. The example family in this article is fictional. This article is for general information only and is not legal, medical, or financial advice.

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