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What we found for Michigan heating help
Each card names the official page we read on October 21, 2026. Dollar amounts are the state's own; anything it does not publish, we do not show.
MEAP bill help
Payment or partial payment of bills for electricity, natural gas, propane, heating oil or another deliverable heating fuel at your main home.
What MEAP pays for
The program helps eligible low-income households meet home energy costs at their primary residence. It can pay all or part of bills for electricity, natural gas, propane, heating oil and other deliverable fuels used for heat. By law it must put vulnerable people first and, where it fits, add services that help households move toward self-sufficiency.
Where the money comes from
MEAP is paid for by a charge on electric bills called the Low-Income Energy Assistance Funding Factor. On April 17, 2026 the Michigan Public Service Commission set it at $1.50 per meter per month for the electric utilities that choose to take part, starting with the September 2026 billing month.
The size of the program
For fiscal year 2027 the commission asked nonprofits, local governments and tribal governments to apply for grants. The page lists an estimated $93,000,000 in total program funding. Those grants go to the local providers that serve households, so you do not apply to the commission.
How to get help
The page points to a Get Help link. In practice you reach a local provider, and the provider decides if you qualify and how much you get. We did not find an income table or a dollar benefit on the page we read, so we are not guessing. Call 211 or use the Get Help link for your county.
Other Michigan help
The state also runs other help that lives on different pages, such as emergency relief for utility bills. We did not verify them on official pages today, so we leave them off until we can read them.
Use rebates to cut the bill
Bill help is a short-term bridge. For lasting savings, look at the Michigan rebate pages below.
Why your utility matters
Because MEAP is paid by a charge on electric bills, it is tied to utilities that choose to take part. The state page names a funding factor for participating electric utilities. If you are not sure whether your electric company takes part, ask the provider you reach through the Get Help link. We did not find a list of participating utilities on the page we read, so we do not name any.
Using the page with a neighbour
Many people who need help do not use the internet. If you are helping a parent or a neighbour, call 211 with them and help them write down the provider's name and phone number. Ask what documents are needed and when to call back. A short list on paper makes the second call much easier.
How this page will change
When the commission or a provider publishes a household income table or a benefit schedule for 2026-27, we will read it on the official page and add it with the date. Until then, this page stays short on purpose.
What to do in Michigan this winter
- Use the Get Help link on the Michigan PSC page to find your provider.
- Ask the provider for the income limit and the benefit for your fuel.
- Have recent bills and proof of income ready.
- Ask about weatherization or services that lower the bill later.
- Look at efficiency rebates for next winter.
More for Michigan homes
- Michigan home rebates: every program in one place
- Michigan free weatherization: lower bills for good
- Michigan smart thermostat rebates: lower heating use
- Heating bill help in every state and province: all programs, dates and amounts
Common questions
What does MEAP pay for?
Payment or partial payment of bills for electricity, natural gas, propane, heating oil or other deliverable heating fuel at a primary home.
Who runs the Michigan Energy Assistance Program?
The Michigan Public Service Commission page describes the program and funds local providers through grants. Households get help through those providers.
How is MEAP funded?
By a charge on electric bills. The commission set it at $1.50 per meter per month for participating utilities starting in September 2026.
How much will I get?
The official page does not say, so we do not show a number. Ask your provider.
By Sam Menard. Sources, last read October 21, 2026: Michigan PSC: Michigan Energy Assistance Program, LIHEAP Clearinghouse (HHS), U.S. HHS ACF: LIHEAP.
