MI PSC Awards $41 Million for Energy Assistance

On October 18, the Public Service Commission awarded seven organizations $41 million in grants to help low-income utility customers with their bills. The grants, from the Low-Income and Energy Assistance Fund, were awarded to the following organizations:

• Michigan Department of Human Services (DHS) -- $26,525,000 in total, with $20,525,000 for the State Emergency Relief program and to prevent threatened shutoff of energy services and $6 million to restore energy services already disconnected.
  
  
• Downriver Community Conference -- $275,000 for energy assistance to low-income households in the Monroe and southern Wayne County areas.
  
  
• Lighthouse Emergency Services -- $200,000 to assist clients in the Pontiac and Oakland County areas who are ineligible for assistance from the DHS or for whom such assistance is insufficient or would not be provided in time to avert an emergency.
  
  
• Michigan Community Action Agency Association (MCAAA) -- $4,500,000 in total, with $3 million for low-income direct energy assistance, $1 million for deliverable fuels programs for low-income households, and $500,000 to provide a two-to-one match for funds raised locally through the Walk for Warmth project.
  
  
• Newaygo County -- $500,000 to assist clients in a 10-county area ineligible for the State Emergency Relief Program or for whom such assistance is insufficient or would not be available in time to avert an emergency.
  
  
• The Heat and Warmth Fund (THAW) -- $4,500,000 for the THAW LI/EE program.
  
  
• Salvation Army -- $4,500,000 to serve households statewide ineligible for assistance from DHS or for whom such assistance is insufficient or not available.

Source: Michigan PSC press release

Page Last Updated: September 15, 2006