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(Photo by Brittany Carloni)
Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele today announced that the Milwaukee County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is working with partner agencies across the community to disperse an additional $1 million to qualified Milwaukee County residents who apply for Energy Assistance during the month of March.
“Starting on March 27, We Energies will begin to send disconnection notices for those behind in bill payments,” said DHHS Director Héctor Colón. “For the third consecutive year, we are able to provide additional funding to help our residents in need of some extra support. Customers who are setting up payment plans with We Energies through the end of this month can benefit from proactive crisis assistance, a $300 incentive towards establishing a payment plan.”
This benefit is the only initiative that can replace a customer’s down payment. It will serve those who are setting up payment plans with We Energies, current We Energies customers and eligible applicants to the Energy Assistance program. The benefit is available until all funding has been dispersed. It is expected to be available through March 31, 2017.
“We have currently served more than 46,000 households this year with the Energy Assistance program,” County Executive Chris Abele said. “That’s 4,000 more households than last year at this time. Our goal is to serve over 70,000 households this year – to help them stay warm, keep their lights on and avoid an energy crisis. We are on track to meet, and even exceed this goal.”
To qualify for proactive crisis assistance, customers must have made a minimum of two separate monthly payments since September 1, 2016 and must have a current 2016-17 energy application. This financial incentive aims to assist Milwaukee residents in setting up a payment plan and eliminate the threat of disconnection in summer months. This offer will not be available to oil, propane or heat-included customers.
This year, qualified residents do not need to wait in line to apply. They can schedule an appointment to apply at a time convenient for them any time before May 15, 2017. This year, DHHS wants residents to know:
- Schedule an appointments that fit your schedule
- Residents don’t have to wait in line upon receiving a disconnection notice to apply.
- Residents can schedule these appointments by calling 414-270-4-MKE, or going online to www.energyassistancemke.org.
- This year, the program added two additional application sites on Milwaukee’s far north and far south side. Locations are as follows:
- Northwest – 4906 W Fond du Lac Avenue (Fond du lac and Capitol)
- North – 6918 W Brown Deer Road
- Downtown – 728 N James Lovell Street (7th and Wisconsin)
- West Allis – 6761 W Greenfield Ave
- Southeast – 2701 S Chase Ave (between Lincoln and Oklahoma)
- South – 5663 S 27th Street
- Extended hours are now available:
- Monday, Tuesday, Thursday: 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
- Wednesday and Friday: 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Saturday: 8 a.m. to noon
The Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program, also known as WHEAP is a state program that is administered in Milwaukee County by DHHS. It provides a one-time payment for eligible residents, covering a portion of their energy costs.
For more information about the program and eligibility, visit www.energyassistancemke.org or download the flyer. To schedule an interview, contact Katy Glodosky at 920-627-2619. Onsite interviews with current Energy Assistance Specialists and customers and are available.
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