Michigan Energy Assistance Program (MEAP) FY19

Category: Public Policy

The Michigan Energy Assistance Program (MEAP) is federal-state funded utility bill payment assistance and self-sufficiency support services funding program designed to provide crisis prevention and intervention services for low-income and at-risk households that prevent utility interruptions during the harsh winter months.

The Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) has confirmed the selection of nine (9) participating programs to administer the Michigan Energy Assistance Program (MEAP) and funding levels for the 2019 fiscal year.

​Announcement of the participating community organizations awaiting fund disbursement for the FY19 provision of winter utility bill assistance and self-sufficiency programs are subject to approval of state and federal appropriations budgets.

Michigan Senate Bill 848 (FY19 State Budget) was signed and submitted by Governor Rick Snyder on June 21, 2018.

FY19 Funding Factor
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has announced the participating energy providers and those who have opted-out of the 2019 LIEAF surcharge and their estimated contributions to energy assistance programs.

A link is provided below of participating and non-participating energy providers.

The surcharge is a funding factor imposed by the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) each year to fund utility assistance programs.

The FY18 funding factor for electric providers was .93 cents per meter.  The FY19 funding factor of .93 cents per meter was adopted on July 24, 2018 but should be finalized upon approval by the State Administration Board.

MEAP Grant Proposals
MEAP Grant Proposals were issued on June 29, 2018 with a return due date on July 31, 2018 to the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) a division of the Department of Labor and Regulatory Affairs (LARA).

Community organizations were required to submit the proposal requesting MEAP grant funds for participating in the provision of assistance for utility bill payment and self-sufficiency programs to energy consumers.

MEAP Grant Proposals state an anticipated grant period for the 2019 fiscal year to begin on October 1, 2018 through September 30, 2019.

MEAP Energy Assistance Programs
Community organizations (private or public) or local governments are required to submit the request for grant funding (RFP) that includes the development of a self-sufficiency plan for eligible consumers.

The consumer must participate in the development of the self-sufficiency plan and it must be designed to resolve “energy crisis” situations, including:

• Pay energy bills on time.
• Budgeting for and contributing to their ability to provide for energy expenses.
  • Prioritizing enrollment in a utility affordable payment plan (APP) if the household meets eligibility criteria.
  • Utilizing energy services to optimize on energy efficiency.

Michigan Energy Assistance Act (MCL 400.1231) Energy Crisis Guidelines

• “Crisis” is defined as:
  1. An individual or recipient has received a past due notice on an energy bill.
  2. A residential fuel tank is estimated to contain not more than 25% of its heating fuel capacity.
  3. A stated need for deliverable fuel or a nontraditional fuel source in which there is no meter or regular energy bill provided.
  4. A notice that the balance in a prepayment account is below a minimum amount.
• “Crisis season” means:
  1. Refers to the period from November 1 through May 31 each year.
  2. Not more than 30% of the funds awarded for energy programs shall be spent on energy costs accrued outside the “crisis season” (June 1 – October 31).

An important note regarding the crisis season as set forth by MCL 460.9t(7) states:
“An electric utility, municipally owned utility, or cooperative electric utility that elects to not collect a low-income energy assistance funding factor shall not shut-off service to any residential customer from November 1 to April 15 for non-payment of a delinquent account.”

That is, energy providers who have “opted-out” of participation with the LIEAF surcharge are prohibited from terminating utility services from November 1 to April 15 each year.  Participating LIEAF providers are subject to the prohibition of utility shut-offs between November 1 and March 31.

Please review the 2019 LIEAF Estimated Surcharge Remittances from Electric Service Providers link below for a list of participating and non-participating energy providers.

• “Eligible low-income household” means:
  1. A household with an income not more than 150% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.
• “Federal Poverty Guidelines” means:
  1. The poverty guidelines published annually in the federal register by the United States Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).
  2. See the 2017 Federal Poverty Guidelines that will be in effect for the entire 2018 grant year set forth in the MEAP Policy Manual.

It should be noted here that the 2018 Federal Poverty Levels (FPL) will be the used for the 2019 income eligibility requirements for energy consumers.  The chart is available in the Community Resources section.

MEAP Program Enrollment
To date, there has been no official announcement for public access to assistance applications or registration for assistance with community organizations.

However, energy consumers in need of assistance can contact distribution agencies in the Community Resources section or visit the website information provided for more information.
Open enrollment dates and funding levels will be posted as soon as they are available.
 

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Related Posts:
Community Resources Section – Federal Poverty Levels (FPL) Chart
http://www.canmichigan.com/community-resources-michigan.html
Michigan Energy Assistance Grants
http://www.canmichigan.com/blog/michigan-energy-assistance-grants
Energy Security in Michigan: The Michigan Energy Assistance Program (MEAP) Funding Factor
http://www.canmichigan.com/blog/energy-security-in-michigan-the-funding-factor
 
Links:
Michigan FY19 Budget
https://www.michigan.gov/snyder/0,4668,7-277-61409_85088---,00.html
2019 LIEAF Estimated Surcharge Remittances from Electric Service Providers
https://www.michigan.gov/documents/mpsc/2019_LIEAF_OPT-IN__OPT-OUT_Electric_Providers_629248_7.pdf
Michigan Energy Assistance Program (MEAP) – MPSC
https://www.michigan.gov/mpsc/0,1607,7-159-52493---,00.html
MEAP Request for Proposal (RFP)
https://www.michigan.gov/documents/mpsc/2019_MEAP_Grant_RFP_626762_7.pdf

Helpful Resources:
Michigan Agency for Energy (MAE) Home Heating Help
https://www.michigan.gov/documents/mpsc/mpsc-ca_homeheatinghelp_276964_7.pdf
MAE Instructions for Switching Natural Gas Providers
https://www.michigan.gov/documents/mpsc/mpsc-ca_naturalgaschoice_211932_7.pdf
MAE Tips for Terminating or Changing Utility Services
https://www.michigan.gov/documents/mpsc/mpsc-ca_tipsforterminating_211944_7.pdf
Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) Inquiries and Complaints
https://www.michigan.gov/mpsc/0,4639,7-159-16368_16415---,00.html
Michigan Energy Assistance Program (MEAP) FAQs (MDHHS)
https://www.michigan.gov/documents/mpsc/MEAP_FAQs_445488_7.pdf
MEAP Frequently Asked Questions (Washtenaw County)
https://www.washtenaw.org/DocumentCenter/View/1849/FAQs-PDF?bidId=


​The Heat and Warmth Fund Assistance Programs (THAW)
Utility Assistance Center
PH:      (800) 866-8429 (M – F, 8:30 am – 5:00 pm)
Website: thawfund.org/programs/

• Currently accepting applications for State Emergency Relief (SER), DTE, Consumers Energy and SEMCO Energy affordable rate plan programs.
• Enrollment for Low-Income Self-Sufficiency Plan (LSP) not yet available.

THAW MEAP Application and Eligibility Guidelines
https://thawfund.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/2018-MEAP-Application-THAW.pdf