Contact: Anne Lupardus, Office of the Governor, 608-261-2162
Funding will Provide Crisis and Bill Payment Assistance to Wisconsin Residents Struggling with High Heating Bills
MILWAUKEE & GREEN BAY – With the moratorium on utility disconnects set to end April 15, Governor Jim Doyle today announced the release of $26.2 million in federal energy assistance funds to help Wisconsin residents pay their utility bills and avoid being disconnected. Governor Doyle also announced that he has asked utility companies to extend their deadline for accepting winter payments, so households awaiting an energy assistance payment do not face disconnections.
“In nine days, the moratorium will end on Wisconsin utilities shutting off power to families who haven’t been able to pay their bills,” Governor Doyle said. “With the deadline looming, and more than 346,000 customers in Wisconsin behind on their heating bills – nearly 10,000 more than last year – more dramatic action is needed. Today I am pleased to announce the release of more than $26 million to help Wisconsin families pay their heating bills.”
A supplement to Wisconsin’s annual federal energy assistance funds, the $26.2 million in federal funds released by Governor Doyle today will be distributed to social service offices in each county. Of the $26.2 million, $16 million will be used for heating assistance, providing a supplemental payment to those that already receive bill payment assistance, but who are still struggling to pay their bills. Another $6.3 million will go for crisis assistance to help those facing unexpected energy emergencies. The final $3.9 million will go for weatherization services to help low-income residents lower their heating bills by making their homes more energy efficient.
“A broken furnace puts a huge burden on any family’s budget – especially if they are already struggling to afford their energy bills,” Governor Doyle said. “That’s why we are allocating more than $6 million to provide crisis assistance. This funding is available through Wisconsin’s counties all year, and those families that encounter unexpected costs.”
Energy assistance benefits are available for households at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty level. In addition to those programs, an additional $6 million in bill payment assistance is available to households with incomes between 150 and 175 percent of poverty – just under $34,000 for a family of four – under the Governor’s Energy Assistance Program.
Qualified households must schedule an appointment at their county’s local office by May 15 to be eligible for assistance this cycle. However, as previously mentioned, energy crisis assistance is available through the counties all year long. To locate an office, applicants should call 1-800-522-3014 or visit http://energyhelp.wi.gov.
“We may have made it through the long Wisconsin winter, but many are still feeling the squeeze from last month’s heating bill,” Governor Doyle said. “I believe making life in Wisconsin more affordable for working families is one of our most important responsibilities, and I am pleased we are able to offer this additional assistance.”
A list of the funding each county will receive is available at: http://www.wisgov.state.wi.us/docview.asp?docid=6676
