Minnesotans Encouraged to Apply for Heating Assistance Now

(KDLM/MNN) – State commerce officials are urging Minnesotans to apply now for winter heating aid. Minnesota Energy Assistance executive director Michael Schmitz says families that earn up to 58 thousand dollars a year could be eligible.

“The program will pay for current or past due bills for electricity, gas, fuel oil, biofuel, and propane,” says Schmitz. “If you run out of fuel during the heating season we can pay for fuel delivery.”

Minnesota is expected to receive around 120 million in federal dollars to help homeowners and renters pay their heating bills this winter.

“Last year we served 127 thousand households, so that’s over a quarter million people who were helped by the program,” said Schmitz. “This year we’re hoping to serve the same number of households. The average benefit for everyone who is eligible is about 500 dollars but it can really range.”

Households with higher energy costs and lower incomes could get up to 14 hundred dollars in assistance this season. To see if your household is eligible for heating assistance, you can CLICK HERE.