Lansing, MI - The Michigan Public Service Commission has unveiled its new energy assistance webpage designed to bring together, in one place, information and links to ways Michigan energy utility and telecommunications customers can find financial assistance to help them keep the lights and heat on and stay connected.
The website, www.michigan.gov/mpsc/gethelp, includes information and links to state and utility company programs that offer energy bill assistance to income-qualified households, including State Emergency Relief, access to the Michigan Energy Assistance Program, and the annual Home Heating Credit, all of which provide financial assistance for families struggling with home energy costs. It also includes links to contact info for all of the natural gas and electric utilities whose rates are regulated by the MPSC.
For phone and internet customers, the website includes links to information about the Federal Communications Commission’s Affordable Connectivity Program, which offers benefits including up to $30 a month of home internet bills, and the state and federal Lifeline program, which provides a discount on home phone and internet bills.
No Michigander should feel too proud to access financial assistance to help keep the heat and lights on as winter approaches.
“People who may not normally feel comfortable reaching out for assistance should know that it’s OK to do so. Everyone needs help at some point — and right now we are in challenging times,” MPSC Chair Dan Scripps said. “The MPSC encourages anyone struggling with household energy, phone and internet costs to take a look at this new web page that offers a variety of ways to get financial help and reduce monthly bills.”
The website also has a link to the MPSC’s Energy Assistance Outreach Toolkit, a resource for social service and community organizations and others to help them provide accurate information about the array of energy assistance programs.
The MPSC created the website to act as a one-stop shop for energy and telecommunications customers to find help they need as Michigan deals with higher electricity and home heating bills.
For information about the MPSC, visit www.michigan.gov/mpsc, sign up for its monthly newsletter or other listservs. Follow the Commission on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.