Indiana Tenant Rights: Utility Shutoff Protections Guide

If you are renting in Indiana, understanding your rights around utility shutoff is essential—especially if you face financial difficulty or are concerned about losing heat, water, or electricity. Indiana has specific rules and protections to help ensure that essential services remain on, even when payment issues or landlord-tenant disputes arise.

Indiana Utility Shutoff Rules and Tenant Protections

In Indiana, utility companies and landlords must follow certain rules before shutting off a renter’s electricity, water, or other essential utilities. These rules are designed to provide notice, prevent abrupt loss of services, and offer some safeguard for vulnerable people.

Utility Company Shutoff: What Renters Should Know

• Advance Notice: Utility providers must give at least 14 days' written notice before shutoff for non-payment (Indiana Administrative Code 170 IAC 4-1-18).
• Winter Disconnection Moratorium: From December 1 through March 15, utility companies cannot disconnect heat for eligible low-income households enrolled in the state's Energy Assistance Program (Indiana Energy Assistance Program official page).
• Life-Threatening Medical Needs: Utilities cannot disconnect service if it will pose a life-threatening situation, with a physician’s certificate (Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission: Disconnections).
• Tenant-Paid Utilities: If utilities are under your name, protections apply directly to you. If under your landlord’s name, you have special options if the landlord is responsible for payment.

These protections apply for most regulated electric, water, and gas providers in Indiana. Rural electric membership cooperatives and municipal utilities may have additional rules.

When Your Landlord Controls the Utility Account

If your landlord is supposed to pay the utility bill (as part of your lease), but doesn’t, you could face a shutoff through no fault of your own. Indiana law provides options if a landlord’s nonpayment risks your utilities:

• Contact the utility company to notify them that you are a tenant.
• You may be able to pay a portion of the bill to keep service continued, then deduct this reasonable amount from your rent. Always keep receipts and notify your landlord in writing first.

If you receive a disconnection notice in this situation, be sure to act quickly to preserve your rights and maintain service.

Required Notice Before Shutoff

By law, utility companies must provide:

• At least 14 days' written notice to the customer of record
• Notice must explain the reason and the final shutoff date
• Contact information for disputing the shutoff or arranging payment

Tenants should keep all documentation from the utility company and landlord, as it may be needed for complaints or legal action.

How to Respond to a Utility Shutoff Notice

If you receive a notice, don’t panic. There are steps you can take to prevent disconnection and protect your rights in Indiana.

• Contact the utility company right away. Explain your circumstances and ask about payment arrangements or shutoff protections.
• If medical needs or winter rules apply, submit the relevant documents (for example, a doctor’s letter for medical emergencies).
• Apply for assistance through the Indiana Energy Assistance Program if you qualify (Energy Assistance Program details).
• If you believe your rights as a tenant are being violated, you can file a complaint with the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission Consumer Affairs Division.

Official Forms and How to Use Them

• Medical Certificate for Utility Non-Shutoff – Indiana does not have a standardized state form number, but utilities use a utility company medical certification form (sample).
  • When/How to Use: If you or someone in your household is seriously ill, ask your medical provider to fill out this form and submit it to your utility company to temporarily prevent shutoff.
• Complaint Form – Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission
  • File a Complaint Online
  • When/How to Use: Use this online form if you believe your utility company or landlord is unjustly disconnecting service. For example, if you received notice but followed all payment or medical rules.

Relevant Indiana Tribunal and Tenancy Legislation

The state agency overseeing utility issues for renters is the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC). For landlord-tenant housing matters generally, see the Indiana Code Title 32, Article 31: Landlord-Tenant Relations.¹

The utility shutoff rules are detailed in 170 Indiana Administrative Code (IAC) 4-1.²

FAQ About Utility Shutoff for Indiana Renters

1. Can my landlord shut off my utilities to force me to move?
   No. Under Indiana law, landlords are prohibited from shutting off essential utilities as a way to evict or pressure tenants. Such action may be illegal and grounds for legal action.
2. What should I do if my power is shut off, but my landlord was supposed to pay the bill?
   You should contact the utility provider to explain your situation as a tenant. You may be able to pay to restore service and deduct the cost from your rent. Be sure to provide written notice and keep proof of all payments.
3. Are there protections against shutoff during extreme weather?
   Yes. The Indiana winter moratorium prevents utility shutoff for heat between December 1 and March 15 for eligible households. Contact your utility provider and apply for the Energy Assistance Program.
4. How do I file a complaint about an unjust utility shutoff?
   You can submit a complaint through the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission’s Consumer Affairs Division online portal, by mail, or by phone (file a complaint here).
5. What forms do I need for a medical emergency shutoff hold?
   Provide your utility company with a completed medical certificate signed by a healthcare provider. Contact your provider or the utility for their form.

Conclusion: Key Takeaways for Indiana Renters

• Indiana law provides notice and protection against sudden utility shutoffs for most renters.
• Eligible renters may receive winter disconnection protection or additional time to pay with a medical certificate.
• If your landlord is responsible for utilities but doesn’t pay, you have the right to take action and maintain service.

Staying informed and responding quickly to notices helps safeguard your access to essential utilities.

Need Help? Resources for Renters

• Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission Consumer Affairs Division – Utility complaints, questions, and consumer rights.
• Indiana Energy Assistance Program – Apply for payment assistance or winter moratorium eligibility.
• Indiana Legal Services – Free or low-cost legal help for tenants' rights and utility disputes.
• Read the full Indiana Landlord-Tenant Law for detailed rights and responsibilities.

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1. Indiana Code Title 32, Article 31: Landlord-Tenant Relations
2. 170 IAC 4-1: Residential Customer Protections

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