The Lansing Board of Water & Light (BWL) and more than a dozen nonprofit organizations and community partners will host a Community Resource Fair tomorrow, Tuesday, September 26 from 2-7 p.m. at the Gier Community Center, 2400 Hall St., Lansing. The fair is designed to help connect BWL residential customers and greater Lansing residents behind on their bills to information on resources and financial assistance per available funding and eligibility.
This will be the eighth resource event that has now helped an estimated 2,000 BWL customers catch up on nearly $3 million in past-due utility bills. The fairs are free and open to the public with no pre-registration necessary. A full list of community partners include:
- BWL Customer Service
- BWL Hometown Energy Savers
- Greater Lansing Food Bank
- Capital Area Housing Partnership
- Capital Area Community Services
- Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS)
- Michigan Department of Treasury Unclaimed Property
- Tri-County Office on Aging
- Ingham County Health Department
- City of Lansing Department of Economic Development & Planning
- Womens Center of Greater Lansing
- MDHHS Division of Environmental Health
- Salvation Army Capital Area
- Capital Area District Library (CADL)
- DivDat BWL Kiosks
Beginning in September, customers saw a small static $0.88 “Low-Income Energy Assist Fund (LIEAF)" surcharge for electricity on their monthly BWL bills, which goes into a statewide fund to help eligible customers with more financial assistance if they’re struggling. This LIEAF money will be important as BWL has opted into PA95 ending the winter heating season shut-off moratorium, meaning electric shut-offs due to non-pay will continue year-round. BWL customers at risk of shut-off are eligible for Federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and Michigan Energy Assistance Program (MEAP) funding assistance, and may also qualify for a winter protection payment plan. For more information about what assistance is available, visit www.lbwl.com/shutoffprotection.
Additionally, beginning November 1, all BWL electric customers will be transferred to a time of use rate. For more information about rate changes, visit www.lbwl.com/comingsoon.
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