Payment Assistance Programs

Here you'll find information on special payment plans and programs that may help meet your energy needs and protect you from gas and electric service shut-off. If you need help paying your bill, we recommend you Call 2-1-1 in your community first. 2-1-1 coverage map.

Download our assistance programs brochure, Spanish version (PDF).

Are you 65 and older?
Let us know if you are 65 and older and the head of the household. You may qualify for shut-off protection, no late payment charges and automatic eligibility for payment plans regardless of income. Call (800) 477-5050 or e-mail customer@consumersenergy.com. Please have your account number handy.

Call 2-1-1. Get Help
Spearheaded by the United Way, 2-1-1 is a free phone service that links people with information or agencies that can help with utility assistance and other needs. Calls are confidential and answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Translation service is available.

About three out of four Michigan residents have access to 2-1-1. It is available in the Lower Peninsula in Allegan, Berrien, Calhoun, Cass, Clare, Clinton, Eaton, Gladwin, Gratiot, Hillsdale, Ingham, Isabella, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Kent, Lenawee, Livingston, Macomb, Mason, Midland, Monroe, Muskegon, Oakland, Oceana, Ottawa, St. Joseph, Van Buren, Washtenaw and Wayne counties. It also is available across the Upper Peninsula. For more information, visit uwmich.org/2-1-1.

Affordable Rental Housing
Contact: Michigan Housing Locator

People looking for affordable rental housing may use the free Michigan Housing Locator.

Home Heating Credit (HHC)
Contact: Michigan Department of Treasury

You may apply for a Home Heating Credit for 2009. To apply, you must meet the income guidelines and own or rent the home where you live (includes rented apartments and mobile homes).

In January 2010, you may get the Home Heating Credit Claim form
(MI-1040CR-7) wherever other tax forms are provided. The deadline to file is Sept. 30, 2010. You need not file an income tax return to apply for this credit. The average Home Heating Credit for 2008 tax year was $200. MPSC Consumer Alert - Home Heating Credit

(MI-1040CR-7) Home Heating Form
(MI-1040CR-7) Home Heating Instruction Booklet

Low Income Home Interest Loans
Contact: Michigan State Housing Development Authority or (517) 373-8017

MSHDA offers qualified low-income households low interest home improvement loans of 4 percent to 8 percent, depending upon income. Loans of 8 percent also are available to qualified landlords. Homeowners can borrow up to $25,000 without any equity to add insulation, replace the furnace, install energy efficient windows and pay for other eligible energy improvements. For more details visit the MSHDA Web site and click on the Home Improvement link. You also may call (517) 373-8017.

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Shut-off Protection Plan (SPP)
Contact: Consumers Energy at (800) 477-5050

This plan provides year-round protection from shut-off and is available to customers with a household income at or below 200 percent of the federal income eligibility guidelines.

The plan requires:

• Initial down payment of 10 percent of your total bill
  
• Participating in a budget plan that spreads our your annual energy costs into equal payments plus equal monthly payments on your past-due balance

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Winter Protection Plan
Contact: Consumers Energy at (800) 477-5050

The Winter Protection Plan may protect low-income customers and seniors age 65 and older from service shut-off and high payments during the winter (Nov. 1 to March 31). Customers are responsible for electricity and natural gas used, but some of the costs can be deferred.

Eligible low-income and senior customers may sign up for the Winter Protection Plan beginning Nov. 1.

• If you qualify, you'll pay 7 percent of your estimated annual bill along with a portion of any past-due amount. When the protection period ends March 31, you must pay your full monthly bill, plus part of the amount you owe from the winter months when you did not pay the full bill
  
• Participation does not relieve customers from the responsibility for paying for electricity and natural gas usage, but may prevent shut-off during the winter months. At the end of the protection period, both low-income and senior citizens participating in the plan must make arrangements with their utility company to pay any money owed before the start of the next protection period.
  
• You qualify for the plan if you meet at least one of the following requirements:

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Earned Income Credit (EIC)
Contact: U.S. Treasury Department, Internal Revenue Service

The Earned Income Credit is a refundable federal income tax credit for low-income workers. Those who qualify will owe less in taxes and may get a refund. Even a person who does not generally owe income tax may qualify for an EIC, but must file a tax return to get the credit. If you are married, you must file jointly to qualify. To file, fill out Form 1040 or 1040A and attach the EIC form. If you were raising a child in your home in 2009, you also may be able to boost each paycheck during the year with Advance EIC. Get form W-5 from your employer or call (800) 829-3676.

Do I qualify for EIC?
2009 Form 1040 (Schedule EIC)

State Earned Income Credit (SEIC)
Contact: Michigan Department of Treasury

For the 2009 tax year, a taxpayer may claim a Michigan earned income tax credit equal to a percentage of the federal earned income tax credit for which the taxpayer is eligible, if any.

The Michigan credit will provide assistance to workers struggling to keep up with rising costs. Watch for additional information in the 2009 Michigan income tax booklet.

PeopleCare
Contact: The Salvation Army - Eastern Michigan Division or The Salvation Army - Western Michigan and Northern Indiana Division

If you have suffered a job loss, home foreclosure or are dealing with high or unexpected medical bills, emergency help may be available. PeopleCare helps people and families with emergency needs, such as food, clothing, transportation, shelter, home heating and medicine.

Consumers Energy customers and employees contribute money to PeopleCare, and the company provides bill credits to help with energy bill payments. The Salvation Army distributes bill credits and other assistance.

If you or someone you know needs emergency help, please call your local Salvation Army. To donate to PeopleCare, call (800) 477-5050 or visit consumersenergy.com/peoplecare.

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You do not have to be a client of the DHS to apply for help through the SER crisis assistance program. This program is available year-round, subject to availability of funds, to assist low-income households that have received an energy shut-off notice or need deliverable fuel.

If you receive a DHS cash grant, you may use part of it toward your energy bills. Contact your DHS caseworker for information on the advantages of vendoring a cash grant. For more information, contact your local DHS office or Home Heating Hotline at (800) 292-5650.

Medical Emergency Protection
Contact: Consumers Energy at (800) 477-5050

If you have a qualifying, documented medical emergency, you could be protected from energy service
shut-off for nonpayment of your energy bill for up to 21 days. You must provide us with written proof from a doctor or a notice from a public health official that service shut-off will aggravate an existing medical condition.

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Low-income Weatherization
Contact: Michigan Community Action Agency Association

If you meet low-income guidelines (150 percent of poverty), you may receive help to lower your energy bills when you weatherize your home or rental unit. Weatherization steps may include caulking, weather stripping, insulation and smoke detectors.

You automatically qualify for this program if you participate in the Family Independence Program administered by DHS or receive Supplemental Security Income. For the agency nearest you, call (517) 321-7500.

Third-party Notification
Contact: Consumers Energy at (800) 477-5050

With your written authorization, we can send a copy of any shut-off notice you receive to a third party. This may include a consenting friend, relative or agency. Your third-party contact is not responsible for paying your bill, but may act as a liaison between you and Consumers Energy.

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Link-Up/Lifeline
Contact: Local Landline Telephone Company

Link-Up and Lifeline make basic telephone service more affordable for low-income eligible households in Michigan. Contact your local telephone company for details. MPSC Consumer Alert Link-up/Lifeline

Shut-off Protection: Active Duty in the Military
Contact: Consumers Energy at (800) 477-5050

If you or your spouse is the customer of record and is called to full-time active military service by the president of the United States or the governor of Michigan during a time of declared national or state emergency or war, you may apply for shut-off protection for up to 90 days and you may request an extension of this protection by reapplying.

You must provide verification of active duty status. At the end of active duty, you must notify us of your status. You still will be required to pay for the energy you used during your participation in this program. We will set up a payment plan for all past-due amounts to be paid within one year.

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Consolidated Vendoring Warrant (CVW) Program
Contact: Michigan Department of Human Services (DHS)

Through the Consolidated Vendoring Warrant Program, the Michigan Department of Human Services, will send us an amount withheld from your Family Investment Program or State Disability Assistance grant. This probably won't be enough to pay your bill in full. You will be responsible for paying the part of your bill not covered by your DHS grant.

You must pay your energy bill, including any past-due amount, or your service could be shut-off. If you receive a shut-off notice, please talk to your DHS caseworker right away.

For more information, contact your local Michigan Department of Human Services, or call (800) 292-5650.

Read this brochure for more information on the Consolidated Vendoring Warrant Program.

The Heat and Warmth Fund (THAW)
Contact: THAW or call (800) 866-THAW

Like PeopleCare, The Heat and Warmth Fund (THAW) provides emergency help to low-income families and individuals in Michigan who are in danger of losing heat or electricity during the winter months.

This nonprofit organization receives contributions from individuals, foundations, businesses, churches, energy providers and others, and distributes funds January-May each year via an electronic voucher paid directly to the energy or fuel provider. Consumers Energy supports THAW by matching dollar for dollar the THAW contributions that are used for Consumers Energy customer bill payments.

To apply for help from THAW:

• Dial THAW at (800) 866-THAW

Payment Arrangements
When you need more time to pay your bill, visit eServices to make Payment Arrangements from the privacy of your home, or call (800) 477-5050 right away. We'll be glad to work with you.

Other Energy Assistance Programs
Learn about additional heating assistance programs provided by the state of Michigan.

Getting In Touch with Consumers Energy
To receive information and service, please e-mail us or call (800) 477-5050.

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