Help paying utility bills in Michigan

Michigan's utility regulator and what it covers

The Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) oversees regulated electric and natural gas utilities and publishes the shutoff protections their customers can use. Most of those protections start with a phone call: you contact your utility, show that you qualify and set up the required plan. They are not switched on for you in advance, so do not wait for a shutoff notice to ask. Water and sewer service in Michigan is often run by a city or a regional authority with its own shutoff and payment policies, so call your water department directly if that bill is behind. Delivered fuels such as propane have their own path through State Emergency Relief, covered below. Keep every notice you receive, because the dates on it matter.

The Winter Protection Plan, November 1 to March 31

Michigan's Winter Protection Plan shields income-qualified customers from shutoff from November 1 through March 31. You qualify with household income at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty level, or if you receive cash assistance from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Medicaid. You also need proof that you applied for state or federal heating help. In return, you pay at least 7 percent of your estimated annual bill each month, and any past-due amount is split into equal installments that run until the next heating season begins. Customers 65 or older have separate senior shutoff protection over the same months. Call your utility to confirm eligibility and enroll.

Medical, critical care and military shutoff holds

If losing service would make a medical condition worse for you or someone in your home, a physician or public health official can certify it on the Medical Certification Form. That stops a shutoff for 21 days, and the hold can be extended up to 63 days per household member and 126 days per household. Critical care status goes further: it applies when losing service would be immediately life threatening, such as when someone relies on home medical equipment or a life support system, and it must be certified again every year. Customers called to full-time active military duty during a national or state emergency or war, along with their spouses, can ask for 90 days of shutoff protection. Send forms to your utility as soon as a notice arrives.

Michigan Energy Assistance Program and State Emergency Relief

The MPSC runs the Michigan Energy Assistance Program (MEAP), which pays toward bills, helps with past-due balances and offers energy efficiency services through local providers. You may qualify with income at or below 60 percent of state median income, or if you already take part in programs such as State Emergency Relief or SNAP, and your electric company must be one that has opted into the Low Income Energy Assistance Fund surcharge. Dial 2-1-1 to reach a MEAP provider near you. State Emergency Relief (SER), run by MDHHS, helps households at or below 150 percent of the poverty level that have a past-due or shutoff notice, need deliverable fuel such as propane, or need an energy-related home repair. Apply online through MI Bridges.

DTE's Low-Income Self-Sufficiency Plan and the Home Heating Credit

DTE Energy customers with income at or below 60 percent of state median income can ask about the Low-Income Self-Sufficiency Plan, a 24-month program with a fixed monthly payment based on income and usage. DTE forgives up to $3,000 of the past-due balance over the plan: up to $600 at enrollment, up to $600 more after one year and up to $1,800 on completion. You stay protected from shutoff and avoid late charges while enrolled, and DTE encourages applying for SER first. Enrollment runs through DTE's energy assistance agencies. Separately, the Michigan Department of Treasury offers a Home Heating Credit for renters and owners with income at or below 110 percent of the poverty level, filed between January 1 and September 30.

Taking a dispute to the MPSC

If your utility will not honor a protection or fix a billing error, file an informal complaint with the MPSC online, by phone or by mail. The commission sends it to the company, which has up to 10 business days to investigate and work toward a resolution. MPSC staff then review the company's answer against the rules and tell you the outcome. Know that web complaints are shared with the utility, including your name and contact details; use phone or mail if you want to stay anonymous. If you are not satisfied, you can file a formal complaint, which is a trial-like proceeding before an administrative law judge and needs a written filing with evidence. Start with the informal route and keep copies of every letter.

How Settlemont can sit alongside Michigan programs

While a Winter Protection Plan or MEAP application is pending, a verified bill on Settlemont is one more way to bring a balance down. You submit a Utility bill privately with your first name, email, state, category, amount and due date, with no statement upload or account number on the form. Staff then confirm the biller, the bill owner and the current balance, and every submission is screened for duplicates and fraud signals. Supporters who choose your bill pay a service fee of 7 percent by card or 5 percent by bank on top of their chosen amount, and their support goes directly to the utility, not to you. The bill is marked paid only after a reviewer records the biller's confirmation reference and a zero balance.

Sources

• Michigan Public Service Commission: Help for utility customers
• Michigan Public Service Commission: Inquiries and complaints
• MDHHS: State Emergency Relief eligibility
• DTE Energy: Low-Income Self-Sufficiency Plan

Facts checked November 2026. Rules change, so confirm with the agency or utility before relying on a protection.

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