Energy Assistance Programs

Our Minnesota customers can take advantage of a number of energy assistance programs, including:

The Energy Assistance Program (EAP) helps pay home heating costs. Households with the lowest incomes and highest energy costs receive the greatest benefit.

• Households who are at or below 50 percent of the state median income are eligible
• Size of grant is based on household size, income, fuel type and energy usage
• Households with the lowest income and highest fuel costs receive the highest grants
• Federally funded through U.S. Department of Human Services
• Funds are available for renters or homeowners

You can help your neighbors in need by giving to HeatShare. Heatshare is a voluntary program administered by the Salvation Army. It helps those in need survive our long winters by providing funds for heating bills and heating-related repairs.

Your donation is tax-deductible. If you are sending a one-time contribution, please make your check payable to HeatShare and enclose with this form in your Xcel Energy payment. If you are on AutoPay, send to the address on your energy bill, attention: HeatShare.

For more information, please visit www.thesalarmy.org or call 1-800-SAL-ARMY (1-800-725-2769).

Energy CENTS Coalition offers low-income households in Minnesota the opportunity to receive a discount on a portion of their monthly electric bill (through the POWER on program) and monthly gas bill (through the Gas Affordability program).

To qualify for these programs you must first apply and be approved for energy assistance each heating season. To apply for Energy Assistance please visit Minnesota Commerce: Assistance Programs or call 1-800-657-3710 to locate the local agency serving your county.

Please do not contact the Energy CENTS coalition to apply for the discount programs until you have received an award letter from Energy Assistance. For more information on the Energy CENTS coalition, please visit www.energycents.org or call 651-774-9010 or 888-774-9070.

Energy Assistance Program participants may be eligible for the low income discount. The low income discount entitles low income residential electric/gas customers who are 62 years of age or older and/or disabled to a 50% discount on their monthly electric consumption up to 400 kwhs per billing period.

This fuel fund is designed to assist low-income households and those just above income guidelines.

• Funded from corporate and individual donations matched by Federal Funds
• Assists households who are over-income for Energy Assistance
• Provides additional help when federal funds are inadequate to meet household's needs.
• Eligibility is 60 percent of State Median Income

The Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) uses energy conservation techniques to reduce the cost of home energy by an estimated percent. Correcting health and safety hazards and potentially life-threatening conditions is the first consideration in WAP activities.

• Households who are at or below 50 percent of the state medium income are eligible
• All homeowners and renters who are income eligible for EAP are income eligible for WAP.
• Priority is given to households with at least one elderly or disabled member and to customers with the highest heating costs.
• Federally funded through the U.S. Department of Energy

For more information on these programs visit Minnesota Commerce: Assistance Programs or call 1-800-657-3710 to locate the local agency serving your county.

Under the rule, eligible residential energy customers are protected from service disconnection from Oct. 15 through April 15 provided the disconnection would affect the customer’s primary heating source. Changes to the program eliminate the need to file a form with the utility. Eligible customers must commit to a monthly payment not to exceed 10% of household income. To avoid disconnection, customers who receive a notice of proposed disconnection must immediately contact the utility and commit to a payment plan. Xcel Energy will refer customer to local community energy assistance programs if needed. Minnesota has been provided a record amount of energy assistance funds for this heating season. Xcel Energy residential customers in Minnesota recently received detailed information about the Cold Weather Rule with their energy bills.

For more information, customers can call Xcel Energy’s 24-hour residential customer service line at 1-800-895-4999.