With winter upon us, Superior Watershed Partnership urges Upper Peninsula residents struggling with paying their heat and electric bills to contact the Superior Watershed Partnership’s Michigan Energy Assistance Program (SWP MEAP) Energy and Climate Office for assistance with home energy bills and energy efficiency services.
“No one should have to wonder if they’ll be able to keep their home warm or their lights on. These are basic human needs,” said Marissa Martz, of the SWP MEAP Office. “We’re here to help households achieve energy security and relieve the stress of worrying about utility bills.”
Households who present with an energy crisis (past due bill, shut off notice, or need for deliverable fuel) will initially apply for the State Emergency Relief (SER) program, either directly with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) using MI Bridges, found at www.michigan.gov/MIBridges, completing a paper application, or with assistance from SWP MEAP or project partners, and MDHHS will determine eligibility for Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) assistance. Households must be at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Level to qualify for SER and MEAP payment services (for example, a family of four must not have countable income exceeding $3313 per month), however, the SWP MEAP will assist any household with the SER application process and with SWP MEAP self-sufficiency services.
After the Michigan household has been approved for energy assistance through MDHHS, the SWP MEAP can help with co-pays and subsequent heating and electric bills. The SWP MEAP also offers affordable payment plans and energy security services including: energy education, financial counseling, free home energy score assessments, home weatherization, and free solar panel installation for up to five qualified households.
The SWP MEAP collaborates with participating St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP) Societies of the Upper Peninsula, Native American communities of the Upper Peninsula, Michigan Community Action Agencies (MCAA), and other project partners to implement a step-by-step energy assistance program for low-income households across Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. This collaborative, community approach helps struggling families in the UP of Michigan pay their energy bills, become more aware of home energy conservation, and receive the tools needed to gain the confidence and knowledge to budget for future energy costs.
The SWP Energy and Climate Office, located at 1104 N. 3rd Street in Marquette, is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., to assist residents with any energy related needs, including: MI Bridges account creation, SER application assistance, SWP MEAP requirements and assistance, energy education, financial counseling, and more. UP residents in need are encouraged to stop in to see us, or give us a call at 906-273-2742.
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