October 14, 2004

The Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) today approved a round a grants, totaling $20 million from the Low Income and Energy Efficiency Fund. The grants will be used to assist low-income utility customers with their bills.

"With natural gas prices expected to increase, these grants come at just the right time to assist low-income utility customers who will face high heating bills this winter," said MPSC Chair J. Peter Lark. "The grants awarded today are going to organizations that have a track record of helping the people most in need."

The Commission received proposals from 10 organizations with requests totaling more than $57 million. In awarding these grants, the Commission gave preference to organizations with a proven record in distributing energy assistance to low-income residents, an existing administrative structure to handle additional distribution activities, an ability to coordinate the assistance with other service providers, and a plan to serve multiple counties or populations with at least 500,000 people.

Today's order approves the following grants:

• Community Self-Sufficiency Center -- $50,000 for energy assistance to low-income households in the greater Detroit and Wayne County areas
• Downriver Community Conference -- $50,000 for energy assistance to low-income households in the Monroe and southern Wayne County areas
• FIA-- $10 million for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program for low-income households to restore energy services already disconnected and to prevent threatened shut-offs of energy services
• Lighthouse Emergency Services -- $100,000 to assist clients in the Pontiac and Oakland County areas who are ineligible for assistance from the FIA or for whom such assistance is insufficient or would not be provided in time to avert an emergency
• MCAAA -- $2.5 million for direct heating assistance and deliverable fuels programs for low-income households
• Newaygo County -- $500,000 to assist clients in a 10-county area ineligible for the State Emergency Relief Program or for whom such assistance is insufficient or would not be available in time to avert an emergency
• Salvation Army -- $3.4 million to serve households statewide ineligible for assistance from FIA or for whom such assistance is insufficient or not available
• THAW -- $3.4 million for the THAW Safety Net Program

The Low Income and Energy Efficiency Fund, administered by the Commission, is designed to provide shut-off and other protection for low-income customers and to promote energy efficiency by all customer classes.

The MPSC is an agency within the Department of Labor & Economic Growth.

Case No. U-13129

# # #