Utility companies generally cannot shut off heat during periods of extreme weather, specific winter moratorium periods, or if vulnerable individuals reside in the home. Exact restrictions depend on your location and utility provider, but standard protections include:
Criteria: Forecast to be 32°F or below within next 72 hours.
Iowa's Winter Moratorium Law (November 1 – April 30)
This law prevents utilities from disconnecting electric or natural gas service used for home heating during this period.
The winter weather rule protects residential customers from disconnections when temperatures are forecasted to be at or below 32 F, and on days preceding holidays and weekends when the forecast is expected to drop to freezing.
Can you be disconnected during the Cold Weather Rule? A utility can't disconnect you when the temperature is forecasted to drop below 35 degrees Fahrenheit within the following 48-hour period, except in certain circumstances.
If you are behind on your utility bills, this rule allows you to avoid disconnection until March 31, 2026. From November 2025 to March 2026, the Cold Weather Rule prohibits utility companies from disconnecting qualifying customers' service if the local temperature is forecasted to drop below freezing (35 degrees).
There is no minimum, only guidance that comes from the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, which apply to all workplaces, including schools which sets out minimum temperature requirements. They require that temperatures are “reasonable”, classed as "normally at least 16C" (60F).
It takes time for your home to warm up and cool down. If you're not sure how long it takes, try turning the heating on about 30 minutes before you need it. You should turn it off 30 minutes before you'll stop needing it.
The most efficient temperature to set your thermostat, particularly for optimizing your heating and cooling system, is typically around 78 degrees Fahrenheit for cooling in summer and 68 degrees Fahrenheit for heating in winter.
Extreme Cold
The district will close on days when the temperature and/or wind chill are below -20ºF to -25ºF. According to this chart from the National Weather Service, temperatures with wind chills in this range are considered dangerously cold if exposure is over 10-15 minutes long.
The flow of cold air into the eastern United States was facilitated by the upper-level “polar vortex,” not shown, which shifted from its average location near the Arctic into lower latitudes of eastern North America several times during the winter of 2013–14.
From November 1 to March 31, there are some rules to protect customers in cold weather. However, there is no rule that stops shut offs just because it's winter. No service shut offs are allowed on days when the forecast at 6 AM shows the temperature will be 32°F or below in your area, in the next 72 hours.
Suspending utility shutoffs for federal workers during a government shutdown is in line with existing statutory protections across the country. Over two-thirds of states have laws on the books to protect vulnerable populations from utility shutoffs.
Answer: OSHA does not require employers to provide heat or air conditioning for work spaces. OSHA does recommend temperature control in the range of 68-76°F.
The '15°C benchmark'
There are other factors at play, however, such as the insulation in your home, and which direction your property faces. Ultimately, while you should look out for the temperature staying over 15°C as an indicator, your personal comfort is likely to dictate your decision.
Because they do not use standard grid electricity or conventional electric and gas furnaces, the Amish heat their homes using off-grid, self-reliant methods. The most common systems include wood- or coal-burning stoves, propane and kerosene heaters, and natural airflow home designs.
Consideration to delay the start of school or cancel school will be triggered if the National Weather Service projects a 6:30am wind chill temperature of -35°F to -40°F, or greater, with a corresponding frostbite stage in the 5-10 minute range.
Your child should not play outside in temperatures less than 20 degrees. Keep in mind the wind chill factor can cause the actual temperature outside to be much colder, especially if skin is not properly covered.
To decide whether or not to send your child to school, please consider the following guidelines: • A fever of 100.4 or higher. A student must be fever free for 24 hours without medication such as Tylenol or Motrin before returning to school.
The cheapest temperature to keep your house in winter is 68°F (20∘C20 raised to the composed with power C𝟐𝟎∘𝐂) while you are home, and lowering it to 61°F–65°F when you are away or sleeping, according to the Department of Energy. Setting your thermostat back 7°–10°F for 8 hours can save up to 10% a year on heating costs.
To keep your pipes from freezing, run a slow trickle of cold water. The temperature of the water itself isn't as important as the movement; running water inhibits ice crystal formation. You should start running your faucets at a steady drip when exterior temperatures drop to 𝟐𝟎∘𝐅 or below.
Heating and cooling (HVAC) systems are the biggest energy consumers in a typical house, accounting for roughly 45−50% of your total electricity usage. Water heaters, refrigerators, and lighting round out the rest of the major draws.
For most customers, we recommend turning on your furnace when the weather is consistently below 18° Celsius, which usually happens to be around the end of September, or early October. Some homeowners try to put off turning on their furnace as long as they can to save money, which is okay if you're healthy adults.