The Superior Watershed Partnership (SWP) Energy & Climate Office received a $200,000 donation from the Upper Peninsula Power Company (UPPCO) enhancing SWP’s ability to deliver energy assistance to income eligible customers, as well as expanding energy efficiency programs targeted to low-income customers.
This donation enables the SWP to offer energy assistance to UPPCO customers in the United Way ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) population. Qualifications for this program include income within 151% to 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) and a past due bill. *Table is included at 150% for your convenience. Households with incomes at our below 150% FPL can qualify for other programs at the SWP.
The SWP has worked with over 8,000 income-qualified Upper Peninsula households since 2013 to provide heat and electric energy assistance. The SWP realized that paying a household’s bill was only a short-term solution, so we created the Great Lakes Climate Corps (GLCC) in 2018. This program helps U.P. residents reach energy security through energy assessments, weatherizations, utility referrals and residential solar installation.
The goal of our energy conservation program is to help residents reduce energy consumption and increase the comfort and safety of their homes, which in turn reduces the cost of their energy bills. Since 2018 over 1,250 households have received one or more of these free, grant-funded services. UPPCO, a project partner with the SWP, supported the program and in 2019 provided the SWP Energy Waste Reduction (EWR) grant funding to increase the services available to their customers.
Since 2019, UPPCO EWR funding has supported over 270 energy conservation projects for income-eligible UPPCO customers. These services include: home energy assessments, weatherizations, Energy Star refrigerator replacements and residential solar installations.
UPPCO households in need of these services should contact the SWP Energy & Climate office to get started.
Comments