Got a Disconnect Notice? How Long Before They Actually Cut You Off

Under Texas law (PUCT §25.29), your light company must give you at least 10 days’ written notice before cutting your service — and they can’t disconnect on weekends, holidays, or extreme heat days. That letter just arrived. Or maybe it was an email or a text. Either way, it says your lights are about to get cut off for non-payment. Your stomach drops. You start doing math in your head.

Take a breath. A disconnect notice is scary, but it doesn’t mean your lights go off tonight. Here’s the timeline and what you can do to stop it.

The Official Timeline: How Much Time You Have

Under Texas disconnection rules, here’s the process a light company has to follow before cutting off your service:

Step 1: Your bill is due. The company has to give you at least 16 days from the date they issue the bill before it’s considered late.

Step 2: The bill becomes past due. Once you’re past the due date, the company can charge a late fee (usually 5% or a flat $5-$10). But they still can’t disconnect you yet.

Step 3: Disconnect notice issued. The company has to send you a written notice at least 10 days before they can disconnect your service. This is the big one. That 10-day window is your time to act.

Step 4: Earliest disconnect date. The disconnect can happen any time on or after the date listed on the notice. But there are still rules about when they can do it (more on that below).

So from the moment you get a disconnect notice, you have a minimum of 10 days. In practice, many companies wait a few extra days beyond that date before actually sending someone to disconnect. But don’t count on the extra grace period — use the 10 days you’re guaranteed.

When They CAN’T Disconnect You

Even after the 10-day notice period, Texas law says light companies cannot cut you off in certain situations:

Weekends and holidays. They can’t disconnect you on a Saturday, Sunday, or state-recognized holiday. If your disconnect date falls on a Friday, they can do it Friday, but if it falls on Saturday, they have to wait until Monday.
Extreme heat days. When the National Weather Service issues a heat advisory for your area, your light company cannot disconnect you. In Texas summers, this can buy you extra days or even weeks. See our full guide on extreme weather protections.
Before 8 AM or after 5 PM on the disconnect day. Disconnections happen during business hours. They’re not showing up at midnight.
If you have a medical certificate on file. If someone in your household has a serious medical condition that requires power (oxygen machines, dialysis, etc.), you can get a medical certificate that prevents disconnection for 63 days. More on this in a minute.

What to Do the Moment You Get the Notice

Don’t ignore it. Don’t stuff it in a drawer. Here’s your action plan:

1. Call the Light Company Immediately

Call the number on the notice and ask for a deferred payment plan. Texas law (PUCT §25.28) requires companies to offer payment arrangements to customers who qualify. A typical arrangement lets you pay the past-due amount over 2-6 months while keeping current on new bills.

You generally qualify for a deferred payment plan if:

You haven’t broken a payment plan with the same company in the last 12 months
You’re willing to pay a portion upfront (usually 25-50% of the past-due balance)

Get the terms in writing. If they agree to a plan, your disconnection is paused as long as you stick to the plan.

2. Ask About Bill Payment Assistance

Tell the company you need help paying. Many light companies participate in assistance programs or can point you to organizations in your area that help with light bills. Common ones in Texas:

LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) — Federal assistance for utility bills. Call 211 to find your local office.
Light company hardship programs — Many companies have their own assistance funds. You have to ask, because they don’t advertise them.
Local nonprofits and churches — Catholic Charities, Salvation Army, St. Vincent de Paul, and many local organizations help with utility bills. Call 211 for referrals in your area.

3. Check If You Qualify for Medical Protection

If anyone in your household depends on powered medical equipment — oxygen concentrators, CPAP machines, nebulizers, dialysis machines, or anything else — ask your doctor to fill out a medical certificate form. Submit it to your light company.

This gives you 63 days of protection from disconnection. It can be renewed once. That’s over 4 months of protection total while you work on the balance.

Read our full guide on medical certificate protection for step-by-step instructions.

4. If You Can Pay Part of It, Do It

Even if you can’t pay the full past-due amount, paying something shows good faith and gives you a stronger position when you call to negotiate. Some companies will delay the disconnect if they see a payment come through, even a partial one.

What If They Already Cut You Off?

If you’re reading this and your lights are already off, here’s the priority:

Call the light company and pay what you can. Even paying 50% of the past-due balance can sometimes get your lights back on the same day. Ask what the minimum payment is to restore service.
If you can’t pay, switch to pay-as-you-go. Pay-as-you-go plans don’t require clearing your old balance (though a switch hold might complicate things — see below). You load $40-$75 and get lights on, often the same day. Check same-day options for your area.
If there’s a switch hold, you’ll need to settle with the old company first. Read our switch hold guide and reconnection guide for step-by-step instructions.

The 10-Day Window Is Your Best Weapon

That 10-day notice period exists specifically to give you time. Here’s how to use all of it:

Day 1-2: Call the light company. Ask for a payment plan. Ask about assistance programs.
Day 3-4: Call 211. Apply for bill assistance. Contact local nonprofits.
Day 5-6: If a payment plan was offered, make the first payment. Get confirmation in writing.
Day 7-8: If nothing has worked, call the PUCT at 1-888-782-8477. They can intervene and sometimes extend your timeline.
Day 9-10: If disconnection is still imminent, start looking at pay-as-you-go plans as a backup. Enter your ZIP to see what’s available with same-day connection.

Don’t Wait for the Notice to Act

If you know you’re going to miss your light bill this month, call the company before it goes past due. Companies are much more willing to work with you before you’re in collections than after. A proactive phone call can often get you an extension or a payment arrangement without a disconnect notice ever being issued.

Bottom Line

A disconnect notice gives you at least 10 days, and Texas law provides real protections during extreme heat, weekends, holidays, and medical situations. Use every one of those days to call your light company, apply for assistance, and set up a payment plan.

If the worst happens and your lights do get cut off, pay-as-you-go plans mean you can get lights back on the same day without clearing the old balance in many cases. You’re not stuck. Check your options at NoDepositLights.com.

Related reading:

This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. For official rules, visit the Public Utility Commission of Texas. NoDepositLights.com is powered by Compare Power (PUCT License BR190020).