Overview:

- Detroit residents needing utility assistance should act before the Oct. 1 deadline for programs like the State Emergency Fund and Michigan Energy Assistance Program.
- Immediate help is available for those with energy shut-off notices by calling 2-1-1 or enrolling in DTE’s Shut-Off Protection Program.
- The Detroit Water and Sewerage Department’s Lifeline Plan offers reduced water bills and debt relief, but participants must recertify by Oct. 1 to avoid losing benefits.

Versión en español aquí.

Come Oct. 1, funding for federal utility assistance programs renews. According to Liz Jacob, an energy justice lawyer at the Sugar Law Center, Detroiters who use utility assistance should act early to receive benefits while funding is fresh, and in some cases, avoid losing benefits. 

Many Detroiters face unaffordable costs for utilities, Jacob said, noting that city residents face a high energy burden which means a household spends more than 6% on its monthly income on electricity and gas services.

“So many folks are struggling to afford basic necessities, utilities, and food right now, as inflation rises, and so many folks are staying in very stagnant jobs,” Jacob said. 

 In theory, the programs are funded until September of next year, though this year, funding ran out in June, Jacob said. Here is what you need to know now to ensure your well-being. 

How to get emergency energy utility assistance

The State Emergency Fund and the Michigan Energy Assistance Program will have funding available for the 2024-2025 program year on October 1st. Wayne Metro’s utility assistance funding comes from the Michigan Energy Assistance Program. Their funding is allocated to Community Action Agencies, like Wayne Metro, the Salvation Army, United Way of Southeastern Michigan, and The Heat and Warmth Fund. Those agencies provide the funding directly to community members – who can only apply for state funding from one community action agency per funding year.

State Emergency Relief

Michigan’s State Emergency Relief Program helps cover the cost of emergencies – energy-related utility shut-offs included – from Oct. 1 until funds are exhausted. Jacob said last year, State Emergency Relief funds were exhausted three months early in June 2024.

Funds have also been reduced since last year. Now, Detroiters receive $500 for heat-related costs and $500 for electric-related costs, which residents can only apply once for each utility. 

How do I apply? Apply online at MI Bridges by creating or logging into an account. After submitting your application, plan for a 10-day wait for a decision. 

For immediate help, visit your local Michigan Department of Health and Human Services office (find your location here) and apply in person. Your local office will give you an application form. 

It may be easier to print and fill out the application form before going to MDHHS. Michigan Legal Help recommends explaining your emergency to your health department specialist, who is the only person who can determine eligibility. 

What documents do I need? You will be asked to provide personal information in the application, such as a social security number. You may have to show documents like birth certificates, state ID cards, driver’s licenses, or passports. You may also need to bring documents that show your income and expenses, like bank statements and proof of rent, such as a lease. These expense documents must be less than 30 days old.

Detroit residents can use the newly introduced Detroit ID to set up utility accounts with DTE Energy and the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department. However, the above utility assistance programs do not accept the Detroit ID as a replacement for personal identification. 

Denise Fair Razo, Detroit’s chief public health officer, said the Detroit ID does not substitute any form of identification indicating or inferring U.S. citizenship, such as a U.S. passport, birth certificate, or federal social security card. 

What happens: In Detroit, a specialist from the Detroit Health Department will set up a conference to review your application. Before you meet, gather your essential documents and read up on your rights in this Michigan Environmental Justice Coalition toolkit. 

You may learn more about your rights from the health department specialist and ask them any other questions you have about the application process or your public benefits.

If you are approved for a utility assistance award from the State Emergency Relief program, you may be required to first make a down-payment, also called a copay, in order to receive your award, Jacob said. The down-payment requires you to pay an amount determined by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services directly to DTE to pay a portion of your bill. 

Then, you must upload proof of your payment to your MiBridges account. Only then will the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services send your State Emergency Relief award directly to DTE to pay towards your outstanding utility bill. It may take several business days for the award to be sent and received by DTE, Jacob said. 

If you need additional financial assistance to pay your down-payment, you can apply for additional assistance through the Michigan Energy Assistance Program.

Michigan Energy Assistance Program

After their State Emergency Relief application is approved, Michigan residents are eligible for supplemental assistance from the Michigan Energy Assistance Program. Their State Emergency Relief copay, or the amount they contribute toward the cost of the emergency assistance received under the program, must be equal to or less than $3,000 per year.

The Michigan Energy Assistance Program helps eligible low-income households, who are at or below 150% of the federal poverty level, reach energy self-sufficiency and prevent energy insecurity. Benefits include help with paying energy bills on time, budgeting for energy expenses, which could include enrollment into an affordable payment plan, and learning about energy efficiency. 

There are two options for the Michigan Energy Assistance Program. An eligible low-income customer can receive a one-time payment towards their arrears, or they can choose to enroll in the Low-Income Self-Sufficiency Plan, also called DTE’s Affordable Payment Plan. 

The Low-Income Self-Sufficiency Plan is a 24-month payment program that freezes a customer’s past due balance, eliminates future late charges as long as they make timely payments over the program, and provides customers with a monthly arrears credit, Jacob said. 

For many households, Jacob said participating in the Low-Income Self-Sufficiency Plan can ensure that they have a more affordable monthly bill by providing them with the opportunity to receive financial support to pay off both their monthly bill and pay down any outstanding past due balance they have with DTE.

Wayne Metro is one of the agencies that receives funding from the State Emergency Relief program. The center can be reached at 313-388-9799 or their website, and is located at 7310 Woodward Ave. Other agencies include: 

If a resident is in immediate need and has an active shut-off notice, calling 2-1-1 will connect them to updated resources on available funding for state and federal programs.

If a resident is eligible, the next best option is to enroll in DTE’s Shut-Off Protection Program or negotiate a payment agreement with DTE by calling 800-477-4747. The DTE Shut-Off Protection Program gives residents 12 months to pay off your past due balance with shutoff protection, as long as you make payments.

This program is most useful for families between 150-200% of the federal poverty level or residents who are not eligible for State Emergency Relief or the Michigan Energy Assistance Program. 

Do I qualify for water utility assistance?

Detroiters have access to two separate water assistance programs. The Detroit Water and Sewerage Department’s Lifeline Plan is an income-based water affordability program that reduces water bills to as low as $18 per month and erases water debt. Detroiters who are not eligible for the Lifeline Plan can qualify for the water department’s EasyPay Plan.

Non-Detroit resident customers of the Great Lakes Water Authority are eligible for the Water Residential Assistance Program (WRAP), which offers help paying down past-due balances and paying bills for up to two years.

To be eligible for WRAP, you must be a residential customer of a participating water utility, have an income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level, have the water bill in your name, and be able to verify responsibility for it. Eligible seniors and permanently disabled persons can obtain bill credit indefinitely.

Tiana Starks, communications director for We The People Detroit, said many people might not be aware of the Oct. 1 recertification deadline for the Lifeline Plan. If they do not recertify in time, they could be dropped from the plan.

“With over 25,000 households depending on the Lifeline Plan for reduced water bills, access to clean water is at risk for many,” Starks said. 

Numbers from this month report that 76,000 Detroiters benefit from the Lifeline Plan, and 9,000 Detroit households have signed up for the EasyPay Plan since its rollout on July 30, Bryan Peckinpaugh, Director of Public Affairs, confirmed. 

How do I apply for Lifeline? Your residential water bill must be in your name. The household member responsible for the water account needs a photo ID, social security number and proof of household income for the last 30 days to determine payment tier. Apply through Wayne Metro at waynemetro.org/DWSDlifeline or call 313-386-9727.

The program operates on three tiers based on income and water use. The $18-a-month tier is the most common—for families at 135% of the federal poverty level or a family of four making up to $42,120 a year. The $43-a-month tier is for families of four making $46,800 a year. The $56-a-month tier requires a yearly income of $62,400 for four people in a household. 

Wayne Metro operates a dedicated call center for water-related inquiries, staffed by approximately 40 team members, with an average wait time of about three minutes.

Shama Mounzer, chief programs officer for Wayne Metro, said the plan includes adding clients who apply for recertification to a shared list between Wayne Metro and the water department. Once on this list, clients are protected from service shut-offs until they are re-enrolled in the Lifeline Program. 

Assistance is available at any Wayne Metro location for those who encounter challenges with the application process. If visiting in person is not possible, a Wayne Metro representative can provide support over the phone (call 313-388-9799) and apply on the caller’s behalf.

Mounzer said clients who miss the Oct. 1 deadline still have the option to submit their recertification application and will be re-enrolled in the Lifeline Program. 

To begin the recertification process in the Lifeline Plan, call the agency at 313-388-9799 or fill out this form. 

How do I apply for the Easy Pay Plan? Detroiters who are not eligible for the Lifeline Plan can qualify for the water department’s EasyPay Plan, a program that stops water shut-offs if regular payments are made. 

The EasyPay Plan has no income restrictions, and a $10 deposit enrolls you in the program. Customers have 36 months to pay off the overdue balance and their regular bill. 

How do I apply for WRAP? WRAP provides financial assistance to eligible residents in Southeast Michigan, not the city of Detroit, to help manage water bills. Eligible Detroiters can apply to the Lifeline Plan. The program offers payment assistance, water conservation measures, and arrears forgiveness for those who qualify.

Once enrolled, the program provides up to $115 per month in bill payment assistance for 12 months, with the possibility of renewal if you remain eligible. WRAP also offers up to $1,500 in arrearage forgiveness for past-due water bills. In addition to financial support, the program includes water conservation measures, such as home water audits and minor plumbing repairs, to reduce water usage and lower future bills.

To apply for WRAP, gather necessary documentation, including a valid photo ID, your water bill, proof of income for the past 30 days, and your social security number. You can submit your application online by visiting waynemetro.org/WRAP or calling Wayne Metro at 313-386-9727 for assistance with the application process. If you prefer, you can also visit any Wayne Metro location for in-person support.

Once your application is approved, you will receive assistance, which may include immediate payment credits and help conserving water. Wayne Metro will work with you to develop a manageable payment plan, and any past-due amounts will be addressed through the program’s arrearage forgiveness option.

If you have questions or need help applying, Wayne Metro offers phone support at 313-386-9727. You can also visit their offices to receive in-person assistance.

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Isabelle Tavares covers environmental and public health impacts in Southwest Detroit for Planet Detroit with Report for America. Working in text, film and audio, she is a Dominican-American storyteller who is concerned with identity, generational time, and ecology.