LANSING, MI – In light
of the recent very unfortunate death of a 93-year-old Bay City, MI
man due to his electricity being shut off, AARP reminds seniors of the many
ways they can seek help with paying their utility bills and making their homes
more energy efficient.
AARP recently launched Operation
Energy Save, a new initiative that calls on Michiganians to help
friends, family and neighbors conserve energy by making small changes around
the house that are proven to reduce energy costs. In an economy where every bit
counts, these small changes could save Americans millions of dollars this
winter.
Part of Create the Good, a network of volunteers active in
neighborhoods across the country, Operation Energy Save features easy-to-use
checklists, instructional guides and simple tips to help their neighbors save
on household energy expenses. The free resource is available at www.AARP.org/CreateTheGood
“When the weather gets cold and energy costs rise, our
most vulnerable populations often must
make the choice between buying food and medicine or staying warm,” said
AARP Michigan state president Eric Schneidewind. “If volunteers or
community groups start by identifying just two or three friends or neighbors
who might not be able to complete the checklist on their own and helping them
make a few changes, we can keep vulnerable populations safe this winter and
save everyone money on energy costs.”
Many Michigan
seniors are facing mounting heating bills that they cannot pay due to the
increased cost of energy and the bad economy. AARP strongly encourages
seniors to check with their utility provider to see if they offer a Winter
Protection Plan.
These plans protect senior and low-income customers of
Commission-regulated natural gas and electric companies, rural electric cooperatives
and alternative suppliers from electric or natural gas service shut-off and
high utility payments between December 1 and March 31 each year. Persons
qualify for the plan if they meet any of the following criteria:
¨ Are age 65
or older; or
¨ Receive
Michigan Department of Human Services cash assistance; or
¨ Receive Food
Stamp or Medicaid; or
¨ Have a
household income at or below 200 percent of the poverty level.
Winter Protection Plans allow eligible low-income customers
to make monthly payments of at least 7 percent of their estimated annual bill,
along with a portion of any past-due amount, December through March, and avoid
shut-off during that time even if their bills are higher. Eligible senior
citizens participating in Winter Protection Plans are not required to make
specific monthly payments between December 1 and March 31, but are encouraged
to do so to avoid higher bills when the protection period ends. At the
end of the protection period, both low-income and senior citizens taking part
in the plan must pay off any money owed in installments between April and
November. To apply for this program, contact your natural gas or electric
utility company or alternative electric supplier.
AARP also wants to remind seniors about the Low Income Home
Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). LIHEAP is federal money given to each
state to assist low-income families with energy costs.
LIHEAP is currently substantially underfunded and unable to
meet the energy needs of the program’s eligible households. AARP has
been working for many years on the federal level to get the funding for LIHEAP
increased, and has asked Congress, as part of the proposed economic stimulus
package, to provide an additional $1 billion over the funding for last year, as
well as $6.2 billion in weatherization funding. Without increased LIHEAP
assistance, many older Americans will be forced this winter to choose between
paying their heating bill and paying for other necessities such as food or
medicine.
In Michigan,
the LIHEAP money is used for three programs: Home Heating Credit, State
Emergency Relief (SER) and Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP).
The Home Heating Credit is available to all low-income
households. Application forms for the Home Heating Credit are available
from the Michigan Department of Treasury, local Department of Human Services
offices and anywhere Michigan
tax return forms are available.
The State Emergency Relief (SER) program is a crisis
intervention program and provides services such as payment for heating fuel,
electricity and home repairs. Eligibility is based upon:
demonstration of immediate need (shut-off notice); declared need for a
deliverable fuel; verified need for energy-related home repair; income or
assets. The SER is administered by the Michigan Department of Human
Services. An application is needed to request assistance and an
appointment is generally required. To apply, contact the local Department
of Human Services office in the county in which you reside.
The Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) is a federally
funded, low-income residential energy conservation program. The program
provides free home energy conservation services to low-income Michigan homeowners and renters. These
services reduce energy use and lower utility bills, thus creating more
self-sufficient households.
For more information about LIHEAP, call the toll-free
Michigan Department of Human Services Energy Hotline at 1-800-292-5650 between
the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:45 p.m., Monday through Friday. Assistance with
paying your heating bills can also be obtained by calling 2-1-1.
Information to help seniors make ends meet during these difficult economic
times, including information on heating assistance, can be found on
AARP’s Web site at www.aarp.org/realrelief
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