Heating Bill Help Available For Lakeville Residents This Winter

LAKEVILLE, MN — Lakeville residents can get help paying their utility bills this winter, with "more Minnesotans than ever" eligible for assistance, according to state officials.

Applications are being accepted for Minnesota's federally funded Energy Assistance Program, which awards grants of up to $3,200 to help renters and homeowners pay for utilities, including heating, electricity, and water.

Residents whose income is below the eligibility threshold — $67,765 per year for a family of four — can apply for grants, which are paid directly to utility providers.

Minnesota Department of Commerce Commissioner Grace Arnold said many families in the state struggle to warm their homes in the winter, with some households spending as much as 30 percent of their income on heating bills.

More than 600,000 households are income-eligible for help from the program, according to the department.

Minnesota received $167 million in May from the American Rescue Plan to help residents with energy bills, plus $15 million for water assistance, according to Gov. Tim Walz's office.

The state received another $106 million in November to support its Energy Assistance Program during the 2021-22 winter season, and officials are urging residents to take advantage.

"Every Minnesotan deserves a warm and safe home, and as we prepare for our harsh winter months, I am grateful for the unprecedented level of partnership from the federal government to help Minnesotans afford their heating bills," Walz said.

The Energy Assistance Program has granted almost $44.5 million to more than 38,000 Minnesota households since October, according to the program's dashboard. The Energy Assistance Program has prevented more than 3,700 disconnections and repaired 940 furnaces, as of Monday.

Click here for more information about the Energy Assistance Program and an application form. Minnesota residents can also get an application by calling 800-657-3710.