Idaho Landlord-Tenant Manual (The Landlord’s Duty to Provide Utility Services)

THE LANDLORD’S DUTY TO PROVIDE UTILITY SERVICES

A landlord or utility company may shut off a utility for a reasonable amount of time if repairs need to be made. If a tenant discovers that a utility company has discontinued services because of the landlord’s actions or inactions, the tenant should contact the landlord and discuss a prompt resolution. It is important to keep a written record of all conversations in case legal action becomes necessary. 16 Assuming the landlord refuses to facilitate an immediate reconnection of services, the tenant next should serve written notice on the landlord that utility services need to be restored immediately. In the meantime, the tenant may contact the utility company or municipality and inquire about placing services in the tenant’s own name. A utility company is not required to take action on a tenant’s behalf. The Idaho Public Utilities Commission prohibits public utilities from shutting off a customer’s gas or electric heat during December, January and February if a customer can’t pay the electric or gas bill and the customer has children, elderly, or ill people in the home. Only public utilities are subject to this prohibition.