Minnesota Electric Bill Assistance

The state of Minnesota, along with the federal government, local governments, utility companies and charities, provide several programs that offer electric bill assistance to eligible residents.  If you are in need of help paying your electricity and utility bills in Minnesota, read on to see if you are eligible for any of these assistance programs.

Energy Assistance Program

The Energy Assistance Program (EAP) is a state run program that provides low income households with help paying for the costs of heating their homes.  To be eligible, households must be at or below 50 percent of the state median income level.

EAP funds are available to both renters and homeowners, and those with the lowest incomes and highest heating costs receive the highest grants. EAP offers direct payment of heating costs, help with utility disconnections and emergency fuel deliveries, and emergency repair or replacement for heating systems.

To apply or get more information about EAP, call 1-800-657-3710 to find the local agency that services your county.

Federal Programs

LIHEAP, which stands for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, provides Minnesota residents with heating bill assistance as well.  LIHEAP also provides weatherization services, which helps eligible people pay for efficiency upgrades to their home which will bring down heating and electricity costs.  For more information on these programs, call 1-800-657-3710.

Charities

Many charities in the state provide emergency assistance to individuals and household who cannot pay their electric and utility bills.  These funds are generally a last resort and are often limited:

Reach Out for Warmth (ROFW):  1-800-657-3710

HeatShare (administered by the Salvation Army): 1-800-842-7279

Agralite Electric Cooperative: 1-800-950-8375

Benco Electric Cooperative: 507-387-7963

Kandiyohi Power Cooperative, Operation Roundup: 1-800-551-4951

Minnesota Valley Cooperative, Light and Power Association: 1-800-247-5051

Utility and Power Companies

In addition to these government and charitable programs, it may be possible for you to get help directly from your utility or power company.  Many of these companies offer discounts and other assistance programs, particularly for lower income customers.  To find out what options are available to you, contact your utility company directly.

According to state law, any electric company that serves over 200,000 customers must provide a discount to low income customers.  As of now, this only applies to Xcel Energy, Minnesota’s largest power company.

Xcel offers this discount through its Energy CENTS program.  You can apply and learn more about Energy Cents by calling 888-774-9070.  However, to be eligible for this program, you must first apply and be approved for the state Energy Assistance Program (EAP).  To learn more about EAP, see the beginning of this article.  You can get more information by calling 1-800-657-3710 and getting in touch with your local agency.

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