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Energy Assistance Available
Posted: September 25th, 2019
The Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program (WHEAP) provides assistance to low-income families and individuals for heating costs, electric costs, and energy crisis situations. Operating with federal and state funding, the program provides assistance to more than 200,000 Wisconsin households annually. Whether a household uses wood, propane, natural gas, electricity, or fuel oil, energy assistance may be available.
WHEAP assistance is a one-time payment during the heating season which runs from October 1st to May 15th. The funding pays a portion of the heating costs, but the payment is not intended to cover the entire cost of heating a residence. The amount of the energy assistance benefit varies depending on a variety of factors, including the household’s size, income, and energy costs. In most cases the energy assistance benefit is paid directly to the household energy supplier.
Households may be eligible for WHEAP services based on a number of factors. However, if the gross income for the household is less than the amount shown on the following chart, assistance may be available.
Income Guidelines for the 2019-2020 Home Energy Plus Program Year
60 Percent of State Median Income Guidelines
|
Household
Size
|
3 Month
Income
|
Annual
Income
|
|
1
|
$7,168.25
|
$28,673
|
|
2
|
$9,374.00
|
$37,496
|
|
3
|
$11,579.50
|
$46,318
|
|
4
|
$13,785.25
|
$55,141
|
|
5
|
$15,991.00
|
$63,964
|
|
6
|
$18,196.50
|
$72,786
|
|
7
|
$18,610.00
|
$74,440
|
|
8
|
$19,023.75
|
$76,095
|
How to Apply for WHEAP Energy Assistance
Trempealeau county residents: call the Western Dairyland Economic Opportunity Council at 715-985-2391 or send an email to energy-tc@wdeoc.org to schedule a phone or a face-to-face appointment.
Eau Claire county residents: call Western Dairyland at 715-836-7511 or send an email to energy@wdeoc.org to schedule a phone or a face-to-face appointment.
Residents of all other counties should contact their local Health & Human Services office. For more information or to locate your local office, call 1-866-HEATWIS.
Anyone who qualifies for WHEAP Energy Assistance is automatically eligible for the Western Dairyland Weatherization Program. Weatherization services vary with each home, depending on how it was built and its current condition. Common weatherization services include installing attic and sidewall insulation, sealing major air leaks, repairing or replacing furnaces, caulking and/or repairing inefficient windows and doors, adding weather stripping, repairing or replacing hot water heaters, installing energy-efficient light bulbs and appliances, plus other energy-conserving activities.
For more information about the application process, please call Western Dairyland at 715-985-2391 or go to www.WesternDairyland.org. This agency is an equal opportunity provider.
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