MN Doubles Financial Assistance To Cover Winter Utility Costs

MINNESOTA — The Minnesota Department of Commerce is offering up emergency funds to residents who need help covering costly utilities after the arctic blast that struck the area in February.

The department on Friday announced it has raised the maximum payout per household from $600 to $1,200. Emergency funds can be used to cover past-due utility bills, emergency fuel deliveries and to have disconnected services reconnected.

Energy Assistance Program funds can also be used to help households pay power bills, repair or replace broken heating systems and learn about efficiency and safety.

The deadline for Minnesotans to apply for emergency funds is May 31, but residents are encouraged to apply as soon as possible because funds are limited and distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, the commerce department said.

The department said its energy assistance program serves households that earn less than $54,357 for a household of four or $28,266 for a household of one. Emergency funds are paid directly to utility companies or heating fuel vendors on a customer's behalf.

Applications can be submitted online, with a local service provider or by calling 800-657-3710 and pressing 1.

“No one should have to choose between heating their home and buying food or other essentials because of February’s frigid temperatures," Commerce Department Temporary Commissioner Grace Arnold said in a statement. "That’s why we’re doubling the heating crisis support for families."

“In addition, if you are a household experiencing an energy emergency, the local service providers and the Commerce Department may be able to provide you even more financial assistance," Arnold said. “The Department of Commerce is also investigating utilities’ natural gas purchases and looking at ways to lessen the impact of unexpected natural gas cost increases.”

The department said having previously received emergency funds does not preclude households from receiving more assistance. Families with young children, people with disabilities, veterans, seniors and people experiencing unemployment or financial hardship as a result of the coronavirus pandemic are encouraged to apply.

Last winter, the program paid out more than $106 million to nearly 118,000 Minnesota households through its Energy Assistance Program, according to the release.

The commerce department last week announced it is also investigating a recent pricing spike that sent natural gas costs soaring to at least 50 times higher than average between Feb. 12 and 17.

The investigation aims to examine the cause of the spike and find ways to mitigate its impact on customers, the department said.

“Our infrastructure provided warmth and electricity to Minnesotans throughout the severe weather event. We are just learning the economic fallout from this storm," Minnesota Public Utilities Commission Chair Katie Sieben said in a statement. "As regulators, we will use every tool available to mitigate the impact to Minnesota utility customers. And, we will work cooperatively with state and federal partners to address the very real consequences this storm may have on utility customers’ pocketbooks. In the midst of this COVID pandemic, the last thing needed are additional bills hitting Minnesota families and businesses.”