Michigan Public Service Commission Low Income Workgroup

On June 8, 2016, Public Act 147 was signed by Governor Snyder extending the Michigan Energy Assistance Program for three years, until Sept. 30, 2019. This ensures the availability of $50 million in Low-Income Energy Assistance Funds to provide energy assistance to low-income customers.

On March 28, 2013 Public Act 615 of the Michigan Public Acts of 2012 was enacted creating the Michigan Energy Assistance Act that requires the Michigan Department of Human Services to establish and administer the Michigan Energy Assistance Program (MEAP). The purpose of the MEAP is to establish and administer programs statewide that provide energy assistance and self-sufficiency services to eligible low-income households.

On July 1, 2013 Public Act 95 of the Michigan Public Acts of 2013 was enacted creating the Low-Income Energy Assistance Fund (LIEAF) charging the Michigan Department of Human Services with expending money from the fund as provided by the Michigan Energy Assistance Act. The Act allows the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) to annually approve a low-income energy assistance funding factor, not to exceed $50,000,000, to support the LIEAF.

On July 24, 2018, in Case No. U-17377, the MPSC adopted a funding factor of 93 cents per meter per month for all Michigan electric utilities that have opted to participate in the funding of the LIEAF, effective for the September 2018 billing month.