Home Energy, Telephone, and Internet Assistance Information for Customers

State Emergency Relief Program (SER)

SER helps with energy related expenses including some home repairs

Michigan Department of Health and Human Services

To qualify for SER, a customer must:

• Have an income at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Level and
  • A past due notice or a shut off notice from their utility, OR
  • A declared need for a deliverable fuel such as propane; OR
  • A verified need for energy-related home repair
• No more than $15,000 in cash assets and $15,000 in material assets

Apply online at http://michigan.gov/mibridges. If you need help applying, visit https://newmibridges.michigan.gov/
s/isd-find-community-partners to find a community partner who can help with your application. 

Michigan Energy Assistance Program (MEAP)

The MEAP provides energy assistance programs with a focus on self-sufficiency including payment assistance, arrearage assistance, and energy efficiency services

Michigan Public Service Commission

To qualify for MEAP, a customer must:

• Have an income at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Level and
  • A past due notice or a shut off notice from their utility, OR
  • A declared need for a deliverable fuel such as propane; OR
  • A verified need for energy-related home repair
• No more than $15,000 in cash assets and $15,000 in material assets

Reach out to 2-1-1 to be connected with a MEAP grantee. Information on the MEAP Grantee page is in English only, but the list of MEAP grantees and their contact information is provided below.

The Home Heating Credit

Provides a credit for income qualified customers

Michigan Department of Treasury

To qualify, a customer must

• Have their primary residence in Michigan
• Own or rent the home where they live
• Have an income at or below 110% of the Federal Poverty Level

Complete and submit the Home Heating Credit form available at www.michigan.gov/treasury (in English) between January 1 and September 30.

Tax preparation help is available through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (in English).

Michigan Homeowner Assistance Fund (MIHAF)

The MIHAF provides mortgage and utilities assistance to homeowners facing financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Michigan State Housing Development Authority

Homeowners who

• Own and occupy the home as their primary residence; and
• Have and explain a financial hardship directly related to COVID-19 which occurred on or after January 21, 2020; and
• Have an income at or below 150% of the Area Median Income.

Apply online at MSHDA - MIHAF (michigan.gov) (in English), or call 1-844-756-4423

Michigan Veterans Trust Fund Emergency Grant Program

This grant program provides temporary assistance to veterans and their families facing a financial emergency or hardship including the need for energy assistance

Michigan Veterans Trust Fund

Contact the MVTF county committee (in English) serving the county where you reside or fill out and submit an Emergency Assistance Form (in English).

Residential Income Assistance Credit

Provides a bill credit for qualifying customers to help lower their energy bill

• Consumers Energy (Electric & Gas)
• DTE Energy (Electric & Gas)
• Indiana Michigan Power
• SEMCo Gas
• Alpena Power
• Northern States Power (Xcel Energy) (Electric & Gas)
• Michigan Gas Utilities
• UPPCO

Customers of participating utilities who have an income at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Level or who participate in Medicaid or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

Contact your utility for more information.

Call your participating utility

Low Income Assistance Credit

Provides a monthly bill credit of $30 - $40 for qualifying customers

• DTE Energy (Electric & Gas)
• Consumers Energy (Electric & Gas)
• SEMCo Gas
• Michigan Gas Utilities

Select customers of participating utilities who have an income at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Level or who participate in Medicaid or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

Additional qualifications may apply. Contact your utility for more information.

Call your participating utility

Senior Credit

Provides a bill credit for customers 65 and older

• DTE Energy
• Consumers Energy
• Michigan Gas Utilities

Customers who

• Are 65 years or older; and
• Have notified their utility of their eligibility

Call your participating utility

Low Income Winter Protection Plan

• Protects income qualified customers against utility shut off from Nov. 1 to March 31
• Customer must meet certain bill payment obligations during the protection period
• At the conclusion of the protection period, customer must arrange to pay all outstanding bills before the next heating season
• Customer must pay at least 7% of the estimated annual bill each moth
• Any arrearage must be paid in equal monthly installments from the application date until the beginning of the next heating season

• Customers at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty level
• Customers who receive any of the following services
  • MDHHS cash assistance
  • SSI
  • SNAP
  • Medicaid
• Customers must
  • provide proof of income eligibility and
  • demonstrate they applied for state or federal heating assistance.

Contact your utility company to verify eligibility and set up a payment plan.

Senior Citizen Shutoff Protection

• Protects customer 65 years and older from utility shut off from Nov. 1 – March 31

• Customers 65 years and older

Contact your utility company to verify eligibility

Medical Emergency Protection

• Provides a 21-day shutoff hold where a customer or member of their household experiences a medical condition that would be made worse by a lack of utility service
• The protection may be extended up to 63 days per household member up to 126 days per household.

• Customers who experience, or have a household member that experiences, a medical condition that will be made worse by a lack of utility service
• Protection must be certified by a physician or public health official

Complete the Medical Certification Form and submit it to your utility.

Critical Care Protection

• Provides shutoff protection where a disruption of utility service would be immediately life threatening to the customer or a member of their household.

• Customers who use, or who have a household member that uses, home medical equipment or a life support system.
• Status as a critical care customer must be certified annually
• The protection must be certified by a physician or public health official.

Complete the Medical Certification Form and submit it to your utility.

Active-Duty Military Shutoff Protection

• Provides a 90-day shutoff protection for utility customers and their spouse where either is called to full-time active military service under certain circumstances

• Military members or their spouse who are called to active duty by the President or Governor during a national or state emergency or war

Contact your utility company

1

$22,590

2

$30,660

3

$38,730

4

$46,800

5

$54,870

6

$62,940

7

$71,010

8

$79,080

Add $8,070 for each additional household member.

0-1

$16,566

2

$22,484

3

$28,402

4

$34,320

5

$40,238

6

$46,156

7

$52,074

8

$57,992

Add $5,918 for each additional exemption