Energy Assistance

The Energy Assistance Program helps low-income individuals and families pay their home heating and electric bills during the winter, and pays for improvements to homes and apartments to make them more energy efficient (weatherization).

Energy grants depend on family size, income level and energy costs and change each year.  The Income Guidelines for 2007-2008 are 150% of federal poverty level based on the average gross monthly income for the prior three months.

Over the Income Limits?

Do you have a heating emergency, a utility bill you cannot pay, or need to make your home more energy-efficient, but your family income is higher than the income guidelines?

The Keep Wisconsin Warm Fund can help in an emergency or with utility bills.  Funding assistance is available through the energy locations in Milwaukee County.

The Focus on Energy program can help with weatherization.  An application is available on its website or by calling 1-800-762-7077.

Energy assistance is provided for heating costs, electric costs and for crisis situations.

Heating

Heating assistance is a one-time payment each heating season (October 1 through May 15) to help pay a portion of a family's heating costs.  Payment is sent directly to the utility or fuel supplier and the benefit amount is credited to the family's account.

Electric

Many families receiving heating assistance may also be eligible to receive a one-time epayment for non-heat electric costs.  Payment is sent directly to the utility company and the benefit amount credited to the family's account.

Crisis

Households without heat, with a disconnect notice, out of heating oil, or with a broken furnace and with no way to pay for heat may be eligible for crisis assistance.  The payment to restore heat is in addition to the payments for heating and electric assistance.

Weatherization

Weatherization helps homeowners and renters reduce energy use and costs by arranging with selected contractors to make improvements on their residences.  Depending on the results of an energy audit, improvements may include adding insulation, sealing air leaks, replacing an inefficient furnace or boiler, or installing energy-saving devices like faucet aerators and compact fluorescent light bulbs.

Energy assistance application are taken at the 2007-2008 Energy Locations operated by the Social Development Commission (SDC).

Applicants for energy assistance must provide copies of their utility or heating oil bills, proof of income for all adult family members 18 and older and the social security cards for everyone in the household.  See the Checklist for the information you will need when you apply.

Energy Assistance is funded by the Federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and is administed in Wisconsin as the Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program (WHEAP).

For more information, call:

SDC at 906-2800.