If you are behind on your energy bill, please contact us to avoid disruption to your service. We can help you determine your eligibility for payment assistance, shutoff protection, or other programs. We can work with you to find a payment plan to best suit your budget and energy needs.
For other human services, please call 211 or contact one of the Community Partner Organizations listed below for specific assistance in your area. If you receive State Emergency Relief, you may be eligible for additional assistance. If you have questions or need help, contact UPPCO Customer Service.
UPPCO Customer Service
Assistance Program Screening Tool
The Self-Service Utility Program Screening Tool was developed in partnership with UPPCO, the Upper Peninsula 2-1-1 Call Center and Michigan 2-1-1. If you are looking to save money on monthly utility bills or clear up a past due balance, this tool aims to efficiently connect UPPCO customers to the most appropriate assistance programs in 2-1-1’s directory of community programs.
Shutoff Protection
We know our customers may face situations that make it difficult to pay everything owed for the power they consume. The programs below can assist in a wide variety of circumstances and protect against shutoffs.
Contact: UPPCO (906) 449-2013
The Winter Protection Plan protects enrolled seniors (age 65 and older) and low-income customers whose annual household income is at or below 150% of the federal poverty level, from service shutoffs and high utility bill payments during the heating season (November 1 through March 31).
Who is eligible?
You may qualify for protection and enroll if you receive any of the following services:
- Receive Michigan Department of Health and Human Services cash assistance including Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Food Assistance Program (SNAP)
- Medicaid
- Meet annual income guidelines (see below)
Income-eligible customers must pay at least seven percent of their estimated annual bill each month during the protection period. If an arrearage exists at the time you apply for shutoff protection, you must pay the arrearage in equal monthly installments between the date you apply and the start of the next heating season.
If a customer is income eligible and their utility service was shut off before applying for shutoff protection, UPPCO cannot require a fee, a security deposit, or an amount greater than one–twelfth of the arrearage in order to restore service or participate in the program.
All customers 65 or older are eligible regardless of income. However, you are responsible for all service used. At the end of the protection period, all customers must arrange to pay the outstanding bills before the next heating season. If you are a senior citizen whose utility service may have been shut off before applying for the Winter Protection Program, UPPCO must restore your service during the heating season without any payments. Although no specific payments are required during the heating season, seniors are encouraged to pay what they can to avoid large payments when the protection period ends.
Participation does not relieve you from the responsibility for paying for electricity usage but does prevent a shutoff during the winter months. At the end of the protection period, both income-qualified customers and senior customers participating in the plan must arrange with UPPCO to pay any money owed before the start of the next protection period.
Note: Winter shutoff protections do not apply to customers whose power has been shut off, or who have a pending shutoff, due to unauthorized utility service within the past 2 years at the customer's current address. This applies until all charges are paid or until the customer makes satisfactory payment arrangements with UPPCO.
Contact: UPPCO (906) 449-2013
The account holder who is an eligible senior citizen, age 65 and older, is protected from disconnection of service during the heating season (November 1 through March 31) at the customer’s documented personal residence. UPPCO will restore service for the customer during the heating season without payment of the amount due, deposits, reconnection fees, or other charges. At the end of the heating season, the account will be placed on a payment plan, and payment must begin immediately. Contact UPPCO directly to enroll in the Winter Protection Plan.
Contact: UPPCO (906) 449-2013
You can receive a medical hold preventing service from being shut off for nonpayment on your natural gas and/or electric bill for up to 21 days if you or a member of your household has an existing medical condition that would be aggravated by the lack of utility service. Your condition must be certified by a physician or public health office on a Michigan Public Service Commission-approved Medical Certification Form. The form must state the medical condition, medical equipment, and specific time period a shutoff of utility service would make the medical condition worse.
If the shutoff of service occurred before a medical emergency is approved, the utility will restore service at no cost to you for 21 days. You can obtain an extension of the medical hold and a postponement of shutoff of service for a total of 63 days (3 separate medical holds) in any 12-month period per household member. Annually, UPPCO is not required to grant shutoff extensions totaling more than 126 days per household. Customers will be granted a three-business-day grace period from shutoff of utility service for time to have the Medical Certification Form completed. UPPCO will not require payment for an after-hours reconnect fee or a deposit as a condition of restoring service. The Medical Certification Form is available from the link above and can be requested in hard copy by calling UPPCO at (906) 449-2013.
Contact: UPPCO (906) 449-2013
A customer or household can receive protection from disconnection or have services restored due to inability to pay if there is an identified critical care customer in the home, and interruption of service would be immediately life-threatening. A critical care customer is somebody who requires home medical equipment or a life support system that must be certified by a physician or public health office on a Michigan Public Service Commission-approved Medical Certification Form.
Customers will be granted a three-business-day grace period from shutoff of electric service for time to have the Medical Certification Form completed. You will be contacted by UPPCO when any scheduled service interruptions occur. UPPCO will also notify you before any remote shutoff of utility services. If critical care status changes, you or a person in your household must let UPPCO know of the status change. However, if a person’s status does not change, you must submit an updated Medical Certification Form to the utility on an annual basis. The Medical Certification Form is available from the link above and can be requested in hard copy by calling UPPCO at (906) 449-2013.
Contact: UPPCO (906) 449-2013
If you or your spouse is an UPPCO customer of record and either of you is called to full-time active military service by the President of the United States or the Governor of Michigan during a national or state emergency or war, you may apply for shutoff protection of your electric service for up to 90 days. You may also reapply for extensions of this protection. UPPCO may request verification of active duty status. In addition, you must notify UPPCO when your status changes. Contact UPPCO to set up a payment plan for all past-due amounts to be paid within 12 months. You will still be required to pay for services used while in the program.
Income-Based Assistance Programs
Based on your income, you and your household may qualify for assistance with your energy bill. UPPCO works with government agencies and community organizations to offer assistance. Use the income-eligibility table below to determine which programs you may qualify for.
Contact: Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
State Emergency Relief (SER) is a crisis intervention program that provides assistance for energy-related expenses such as heating fuel, electricity, and home repairs. SER is supported by the Federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Eligibility is based on one of the following:
- Demonstration of immediate need (past due/shutoff notice)
- Declared need for a deliverable fuel such as propane
- Verified need for energy-related home repair
- 150% of Federal Poverty Level (FPL)
- Up to $15,000 in cash assets and $15,000 in material assets
You must apply online using MIBridges
If you need help applying, contact 1 of UPPCO's Community Partner Organizations listed below.
Contact: Customers must apply for benefits through one of the Community Partner Organizations listed at the bottom of this page.
Administering Agency: Michigan Public Service Commission
MEAP programs include services that will enable participants to become or move toward becoming self-sufficient, including assisting participants in paying their energy bills on time, budgeting for and contributing to their ability to provide for energy expenses, and assisting participants in being energy efficient. Note: Beginning October 1, 2025, households are not required to apply for State Emergency Relief (SER) prior to applying for MEAP. To be eligible for MEAP, a household’s income must be at or below 60% of the state median income (SMI) (See the SMI Table below). Or, if a household participates in SER, the Home Heating Credit, TANF, SNAP, WIC, HeadStart, SSI, or SDA programs, they may be considered categorically eligible for MEAP.
Contact: UPPCO works with several local and regional Community Partners to enroll in the EASE Affordable Payment Plan. Contact 1 of the Community Partner Organizations listed below.
Make your energy bill more manageable. If you need assistance managing your energy bill, the Energy Assistance, Self-sufficiency & Education (EASE) Program may help. EASE is a two-year affordable payment plan that helps you stay on top of your energy bills. As an EASE member, you will receive the following benefits:
- A portion of your monthly bill may be paid by the program
- A referral to receive a no-cost, in-home energy efficiency assessment, and upgrades to help reduce your energy costs through UPPCO’s Empower Program.
To qualify, customers must meet the following criteria:
- Must be verified income eligible by DHHS.
- Must be an active, residential UPPCO account holder or the spouse of the account holder
- Must not have theft, fraud, or bankruptcy on the account
EASE enrollment is on a first come first serve basis.
Contact: UPPCO (906) 449-2013
Effective July 1, 2023, if you are below 150% of the federal poverty level, you may qualify for a $15 per month credit on your energy bill. To determine eligibility for the Residential Income Assistance credit, customers must complete the Residential Income Assistance credit application (PDF) and return it to UPPCO.
Allow for 2 to 3 business days for processing of documentation. Customers must reapply to enroll every 12 months to continue receiving the credit.
Contact: Home Heating Credit Information provided by the Michigan Public Service Commission
Administering Agency: Michigan Dept. of Treasury
Download the 2024 MICHIGAN Home Heating Credit Claim form (PDF) prefilled with Heat Provider Name Code and Heat Type Code (UPPCO, Electric Heat).
Home Heating Credit Claim instruction booklet
You may apply for a Home Heating Credit (HHC) for the current tax year to help pay winter heating bills if you meet the listed household income guidelines and exemptions. You may claim an exemption for yourself, your spouse, and other dependents. Additional exemptions may also be available. HHC is supported by the Federal Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).
Forms are generally available in mid to late January where tax forms can be found. Call Treasury at (517) 636-4486 or visit the Treasury website. Some local agencies and Community Partner Organizations may provide assistance with completing the form, which is due no later than September 30 each year.
Customers of utilities regulated by the Michigan Public Service Commission (such as UPPCO) receive protection from shutoff of their heating fuel service from the time of filing of the HHC form with the Treasury until the time Treasury issues the credit. However, you must contact UPPCO to let us know you filed for the HHC. Keep a copy of the HHC form you file with the number of exemptions claimed and the amount of the credit to use when requesting the status of your application. You will still be required to pay for the electric services used during the shutoff protection period.
Administering Agency: Bureau of Community Action and Economic Opportunity
Michigan’s Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) is a federally funded, low-income residential energy conservation program providing free home energy conservation services to eligible homeowners and renters with a household income at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level. You are also eligible if you participate in the Department of Health and Human Services Family Independence Program or receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
These weatherization services can help reduce energy use and lower utility bills. If you qualify, a trained inspector will assess your home and determine which measures will be the most beneficial for you: adding caulking and weather stripping; wall, basement, and attic insulation and ventilation; and smoke detectors.
Contact your local Community Action Agency or go to the Agency Locator Map for more information.
Contact: UPPCO Energy Efficiency, (906) 449-2222
Based on your income, you may be eligible to receive no-cost, in-home energy efficiency upgrades to help reduce your energy costs through UPPCO's Empower Program. Other Energy Efficiency programs are available to all UPPCO customers regardless of income.
2025/2026 Income-Based Program Eligibility
| No. in Household | Federal Poverty Level (FPL) for 2025/2026 | 110% FPL | 150% FPL | 200% FPL | 60% SMI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible Programs: | HHC | RIA, SER, WPP | WAP, EE, ALICE | MEAP, EASE | |
| 1 | $15,650 | $17,215 | $23,475 | $31,300 | $36,517 |
| 2 | $21,150 | $23,265 | $31,725 | $42,300 | $47,753 |
| 3 | $26,650 | $29,315 | $39,975 | $53,300 | $58,989 |
| 4 | $32,150 | $35,365 | $48,225 | $64,300 | $70,225 |
| For each add'l member add: | $5,500 | $6,050 | $8,250 | $11,000 | SMI State Table (PDF) |
Income Eligibility Tables are updated every year to correspond to the Federal Poverty Level, set by the Census Bureau. Check complete eligibility guidelines for each program.
Getting Started With Assistance
The first step for most income-based assistance programs is to register and create an account on the MI Bridges website or speak with someone at your local MDHHS office. In order to qualify for MEAP you no longer have to have a past due bill. However, you must verify your eligibility through one of UPPCO’s Community Partner Organizations.
Community Partner Organizations
The Community Partner Organizations listed below can also help with additional assistance – specifically, customers wishing to enroll in UPPCO’s EASE payment plan (enrollment is on a first come, first serve basis).
Superior Watershed Partnership Michigan Energy Assistance Program (MEAP)
