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Content: While the moratorium is aimed at helping consumers stay connected to vital services during the year’s coldest months, consumers are still responsible for paying their bills. Any customer who cannot pay a utility bill on time and in full should contact the utility immediately to make payment arrangements. What if I can’t afford the entire amount due? If you make payment arrangements with a utility and honor the agreement, your odds of being disconnected in the spring are dramatically lower. The OUCC strongly urges consumers who are covered by the moratorium to continue to pay heating bills through the winter, even if it is only a partial payment. A partial payment shows the utility that you are making a good-faith effort to keep your energy bill under control. Can a utility disconnect service if there are small children in the home? If the temperature falls to a certain level, will that help prevent disconnection? Indiana law leaves these decisions entirely to the utility and its discretion. The only factors that qualify a consumer for the moratorium are whether a consumer receives or qualifies for EAP funds, as described above.