What is the BudgetWise® Billing
Plan?
How do I set up a Payment
Agreement?
What is the Winter Protection
Plan?
How do I file for the Home Heating
Credit?
Am I eligible for the Thaw assistance
program?
What is the State Emergency Relief
program?
Do you provide any programs for people on
active military duty?
Q: What is the BudgetWise®
Billing Plan?
A: Take the seasonal ups and downs out of your energy bills with our BudgetWise® Billing plan. We'll help
you estimate your energy use and costs, and spread those costs over eleven
equal monthly payments. The bill sent on the 12th month reflects the difference
between the energy you actually used and the 11 payments you made. This bill
brings your account back to zero.
Enroll today.
Q: How do I set up a Payment
Agreement?
A: A Payment Agreement allows customers to use an installment plan to
bring their account up-to-date. Payment Agreements require a down payment, with
the remaining balance to be paid in monthly installments. You must agree to pay
the monthly installment plus your current charges (the amount shown on your
bill for the most recent billing cycle) on the same date your current bill is
due. To enroll in a payment agreement, or to cancel a current agreement, see
the Payment Agreement Web
page.
Q: What is the Winter Protection
Plan?
A: The Winter Protection Plan protects seniors and low-income customers
from shutoff between November 1 and March 31. During this period, customers
must pay a portion of their estimated annual bill plus regular payments on any
past-due bills. After March 31, the required bill payment will increase to
cover winter bills.
To enroll, customers should call us at 800.477.4747 between November 15 and
March 31, and meet at least one of the following requirements:
- Age 62 or older
- Receive Department of Human Services (DHS) cash assistance
- Receive food stamps
- Household income at or below that stated in the Household Income Eligibility Guidelines
Q: How do I file for the Home
Heating Credit?
A: Eligible customers may receive funds from the Michigan Department of
Treasury to apply toward their heating bills. To qualify, you must meet the Household Income Eligibility
Guidelines. Special exemptions may be available to customers 65 and older
and to people with disabilities. Department of Human Services recipients and
people who receive other public assistance may also be eligible for the Home
Heating Credit if they owned or rented a home or apartment during the winter.
You must have your household income information, birthdates and Social Security
numbers for yourself and your dependents available when applying. Find detailed
filing instructions and deadline dates on our Payment Assistance Web page.
Q: Am I eligible for the Thaw
assistance program?
A: Customers who meet the Household Income Eligibility
Guidelines, are in shut-off status, and have exhausted all federal and
state funding programs may be eligible for assistance. Find program
administrator information and eligibility dates on our Payment Assistance Web page.
Q: What is the State Emergency
Relief program?
A: Eligible low-income households may receive help paying energy bills
year-round through the State Emergency Relief program. Contact your local Department of Human Services (DHS) office or call the Energy
Assistance Hotline, 800.292.5650. You do not have to be a DHS client to
apply.
Q: Do you provide any programs
for people on active military duty?
A: If you or your spouse is called to full-time active military service
during a time of declared national or state emergency or war, you may apply for
shut-off protection for up to 90 days. You may request extensions of this
protection by re-applying. You must provide verification of active duty status.
At the end of active duty, you must notify us of your status. You will still be
required to pay for the energy service used during your participation in this
program. We will enroll you in a payment plan for all past due amounts to be
paid within one year.
Contact us for more information.
