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Home Energy, Telephone, and Internet Assistance Information for Customers
We all need a little help sometimes. Last year, hundreds of thousands of Michiganders received help with their telephone, broadband, or home energy bills or received shut off protection for their utility service. If you need help, you are not alone. Read on to learn about available help, shut off protections, and how to apply. If you have questions, call us and one of our dedicated staff members will help put you on the right path to getting the help you need.
Navigate to a section
I need help with my home heating or energy bills
- How do I apply for home energy assistance?
- What types of assistance programs are available?
- Are there protections against having my service shut off?
- Are there income limits for payment assistance or shut off protections?
- How can I reach out to my utility?
I need help with my telephone or broadband internet bill.
How do I apply for home energy assistance?
You may be eligible for home energy assistance if your income falls below 150% of the Federal Poverty level and you have
- received a past due notice from your electric or natural gas utility,
- received shut off notice from your electric or natural gas utility, or
- have a need for home-heating fuel (propane, fuel oil, wood)
To find out if you qualify for payment assistance, take the following steps:
-
Apply For SER
Apply for State Emergency Relief
- Online through MIBridges or
- Complete a paper application and return it to your local MDHHS Office
Reach out to a MIBridges Navigator or dial 211 from your phone for help with your application
To apply for SER, you will need
- Social Security Numbers and birthdates for all household members
- A past due notice or shut off notice
- Household income and expense information
-
Contact your UtilityOnce you have applied for SER, contact your utility to make them aware of your SER application. The utility should put a shut off hold on your account while your application is being reviewed.
-
Reach out to a MEAP Grantee
Community Organizations, including MEAP Grantees, may be able to help with
- Required SER co-pays
- Assistance for those denied SER
-
Call 211
If you need additional help, dial 211 on your phone or visit www.mi211.org to be connected with an agency that may be able to assist
What types of assistance programs are available?
Types of Assistance Programs
Assistance Program |
Program Summary |
Program Offered by |
Who Qualifies |
How to Apply |
---|---|---|---|---|
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:
|
Apply online at http://michigan.gov/mibridges. If you need help applying, visit https://newmibridges.michigan.gov/ |
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 received assistance through the State Emergency Relief Program. |
After applying for SER, reach out to 2-1-1 to be connected with a MEAP grantee. |
The Home Heating Credit |
Provides a credit for income qualified customers |
Michigan Department of Treasury |
To qualify, a customer must
|
Complete and submit the Home Heating Credit form available at www.michigan.gov/treasury between January 1 and September 30. |
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
|
Apply online at MSHDA - MIHAF (michigan.gov) 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 serving the county where you reside or fill out and submit an Emergency Assistance Form. |
|
Residential Income Assistance Credit |
Provides a bill credit for qualifying customers to help lower their energy bill |
|
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 |
|
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 |
|
Customers who
|
Call your participating utility |
Are there protections against having my service shut off?
Yes!
In addition to energy assistance, customers may qualify for utility shut off protections. Some protections require that a customer sign up for a payment plan with their utility. These protections are established through state law and Commission rules. Some of these protections may not be offered by municipal electric utilities or electric co-operative utilities.
Learn more about shut off protection programs below. Contact your utility or the MPSC with any questions about these protections.
Utility Shutoff Protection Programs
Shutoff Protection Program |
Protection Summary |
Who Qualifies |
How to apply |
---|---|---|---|
Low Income Winter Protection Plan |
|
|
Contact your utility company to verify eligibility and set up a payment plan. |
Senior Citizen Shutoff Protection |
|
|
Contact your utility company to verify eligibility |
Medical Emergency Protection |
|
|
Complete the Medical Certification Form and submit it to your utility. |
Critical Care Protection |
|
|
Complete the Medical Certification Form and submit it to your utility. |
Active-Duty Military Shutoff Protection |
|
|
Contact your utility company |
Are there income limits for payment assistance or shut off protections?
Each payment assistance program and shut off protection program has different requirements to qualify. Many programs set income limits to qualify. We have provided the current income guidelines for many of these programs below. For other program conditions, see the program summaries above.
Customers at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Level may qualify for payment assistance, shut off protections, or both.
INCOME GUIDELINES (2022-2023)
Number of Household Members |
150% of Poverty Guidelines Maximum Income |
---|---|
1 |
$20,385 |
2 |
$27,465 |
3 |
$34,545 |
4 |
$41,625 |
5 |
$48,705 |
6 |
$55,785 |
7 |
$62,865 |
8 |
$69,945 |
Add $7,080 for each additional household member. |
Customers at or below 110% of the Federal Poverty Level may qualify for the Home Heating Credit.
INCOME GUIDELINES (2022-2023)
Number of Exemptions |
110% of Federal Poverty Guidelines Maximum Annual Income
|
---|---|
0-1 |
$14,949 |
2 |
$20,141 |
3 |
$25,333 |
4 |
$30,525 |
5 |
$35,717 |
6 |
$40,909 |
7 |
$46,101 |
8 |
$51,293 |
Add $5,192 for each additional exemption
|
How can I reach out to my utility?
You can find contact information for electric utilities at our Electric Utility Addresses & Contacts page.
You can find contact information for natural gas utilities at our Gas Utilities in Michigan page.
You may also reach your utility through the contact information provided in your bill.
I need help with my telephone or broadband internet bill.
Affordable Connectivity Program
The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) helps households get and afford the broadband internet service they need for work, school, healthcare and more.
The ACP offers
- Up to $30 per month toward internet service for eligible households
- Up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands
- A one-time discount up to $100 on the purchase of a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers.To receive this discount, the customer must pay $10 - $50 of the purchase price.
Households may receive one device discount and one monthly service discount.
More information about the ACP and how to qualify can be found at the following links:
- Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC)
- Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
- Michigan providers participating in the ACP
If you currently have broadband service, contact your provider to see if they participate in the ACP.
Wi-Fi Hotspot Map
Many publicly available hotspots exist around the state. If you need to go online but don’t have home internet, take advantage of publicly available Wi-Fi.
The State of Michigan and Connected Nation Michigan developed a statewide Wi-Fi hotspot map to help Michiganders who do not have home internet access find a hotspot site near them.
Lifeline
If you need help paying for telephone or broadband internet service, you may qualify for the Lifeline program. This program provides a monthly discount on these services. The Lifeline discount can be combined with the Affordable Connectivity Program discount for even more help. To find a participating Lifeline provider, see our Michigan Lifeline providers list.
You can learn more about the Lifeline program on our Lifeline program webpage.