Gov. Evers announces $21 million to help Wisconsin residents pay overdue utility bills
April 28, 2021 4:06 PM Stephanie Fryer
MADISON, Wis. Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers announced more than $21 million to cover unpaid and overdue utility bills for thousands of Wisconsin residents.
The money is going to more than 36,000 qualifying utility customers across the state through the Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program. It was distributed to people who previously applied for assistance through WHEAP and had accounts in arrears as of April 9.
“This year has been tough for folks and families, and we know there are so many who’ve struggled to make ends meet,” Evers said.
MADISON, Wis. (CBS 58) - Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers announced more than $21 million to cover utility bill arrearages for more than 36,000 qualifying utility customers across Wisconsin through the Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program (WHEAP).
Gov. Evers announced the initiative on Wednesday, April 28 with the Wisconsin Department of Administration (DOA) and the Public Service Commission (PSC).
The more than $21 million for WEHAP to fund this initiative comes Wisconsin’s federal FY21 allocation for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), officials say.
“I’m pleased that DOA in partnership with the governor could help alleviate this burden for so many families that are dealing with so much right now,” said Joel Brennan, DOA Secretary. “Providing this funding through an already successful program ensures that the funds can be distributed quickly and efficiently without creating additional burdens to the utility customer. This was an easy decisi
Wisconsin residents who are late on their utility payments may face heat or electricity shutoffs with a yearlong moratorium having ended. However, assistance from local and state governments and nonprofits is available to help those struggling.
The stateâs Public Service Commission voted last month to end the moratorium on shutoffs, effective April 15. The moratorium was meant to help people with less income as a result of COVID-19. In February, utilities (including water) reported 93,263 residential customers and 4,810 business customers statewide could face disconnection in Wisconsin.
A new PSC rule requires utility companies to submit disconnection plans before they turn off access to energy.
Thousands of state residents have utility bills that are coming due. //end headline wrapper ?>Electric meter. (CC0 Public Domain).
For the first time in a year, Wisconsin customers who are past due in their utility payments can now face shutoffs of their heat and electricity.
The state’s Public Service Commissionvoted last month to end the yearlong moratorium on shutoffs starting April 15. The moratorium had been a pandemic measure meant to protect those customers who lost income as a result of COVID-19. According to the most recent data, in February utilities reported 93,263 residential customers and 4,810 business customers could face disconnection.
Millions granted in energy assistance as disconnections to resume
Millions granted in energy assistance as disconnections to resume
In March 2021, while seeing a decline in COVID-19 cases and an increase in vaccinations, the PSC decided that disconnections could resume on April 15.
MILWAUKEE - The state’s moratorium on utility disconnections expires on Thursday, April 15. It’s been 18 months since utility companies in Wisconsin could disconnect customers for not paying their bills.
Many Milwaukee residents who need help paying their bills seem to be finding it.
A pawn shop can be like a litmus test for how its neighborhood is faring. Typically, the week before Wisconsin’s annual moratorium on cold weather utility disconnections expires, there’s an increase in borrowing at Neighborhood Pawn in Milwaukee.