MPSC - Low Income Workgroup

Low Income Workgroup

Notice: MI Power Grid meetings and all other MPSC workgroup meetings will be conducted via teleconference only until further notice. Please find remote access information for upcoming meetings on our calendar of events. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

On February 18, the Michigan Public Service Commission issued the 3rd order in the pandemic response docket U-20757. The Commission directed Staff to convene the Energy Affordability and Accessibility Collaborative in coordination with the Energy Waste Reduction and Low-Income Workgroup to address the Commission Staff's recommendations in the U-20757 Collaboration and Communication Process report on the Commission's ongoing COVID-19 response; affordable payment plans; affordable energy bills; data collection, transparency, and analysis; review of rule-based protections; and communication and engagement. Staff is also directed to file an interim report to U-20757 on the progress made and any recommendations no later than December 17, 2021.

This webpage will soon be updated to reflect the coordination of the two groups. In the meantime meeting information and materials for both the Low-Income Workgroup and the Energy Affordability and Accessibility Collaborative will be found on this page. If you would like to sign up for the listserv for either group, please provide your email at the bottom of this page.

The Michigan Public Service Commission, Energy Waste Reduction section (EWR), established the EWR Low Income Workgroup in April of 2018 with the support and participation of other State agencies, statewide utility providers, and diverse stakeholder groups. The Low Income Workgroup is collaboratively working to identify and address low income specific energy issues, energy waste reduction measures, and create new initiatives that can reduce the cost of the energy burden on Michigan's low income energy consumers and communities. With the goal of connecting and combining the expertise, experience, and perspectives of the participating groups, the Workgroup is attempting to bridge gaps between program offerings, facilitate more complete delivery of energy efficiency programs, and seek opportunities to better serve low-income single-family residences and multifamily buildings.

The current vision of the Workgroup is to address low income specific issues with the goal of enhancing EWR, health, safety, and comfort in low income housing, and make EWR initiatives available to this underserved sector to provide greater long-term impact. The workgroup is scheduled to meet on the first Thursday of every month and the next meeting is scheduled for March 4th, 2021.

VISION

All Michigan residents live in efficient, affordable, safe, and healthy homes.

MISSION

To coordinate and optimize energy efficiency and clean energy offerings, to improve energy affordability and quality of life for Michigan's low-income residents, and to improve program design, accessibility, and delivery.

We do this through:

Collaborating and coordinating to identify and address barriers and needs that negatively affect energy efficiency efforts.

Sharing best practices and other relevant information among utility providers, government agencies, and other stakeholders;
Ensuring that the needs of impacted communities are heard and addressed;
Development of tangible deliverables needed to achieve prioritized outcomes and overcome identified barriers;
Prioritizing and recommending action.