Walz, State Leaders Highlight Heating Aid to Ease Financial Burden

Gov. Tim Walz joined Minnesota Department of Commerce Commissioner Grace Arnold at a news conference on Monday, December 11, 2023, to highlight heating assistance resources designed to ease the financial burden of winter utility bills for households across the state.

Walz and Arnold spotlighted two core programs administered by the Department of Commerce: the Energy Assistance Program (EAP), which helps income-eligible families pay heating bills and replace broken furnaces, and the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP), which delivers free energy-efficiency upgrades to qualifying homes to reduce long-term energy costs.

At the time of the announcement, EAP had already distributed nearly $34 million to roughly 59,000 Minnesota households this heating season, with an average benefit of about $570 per household. State officials said WAP participants save an average of roughly $500 per household annually after improvements are installed.

Eligibility for both programs extends to households earning up to 60% of the state median income for their household size. Officials emphasized that both homeowners and renters can qualify. "This also includes renters, and I think many times that part gets forgotten that they are available for these programs," Walz said.

Walz framed access to heat as a fundamental need, saying "it's just the basic human right to have your home be warm enough, especially in our cold winters." He and Arnold encouraged Minnesotans who may be unsure of their eligibility to apply, noting that many who qualify never seek help because they assume they will not.

State leaders also reminded residents of Minnesota's Cold Weather Rule, which bars electric and natural gas utilities from shutting off service to residential customers between October 1 and April 30, provided the customer works with their utility on a payment plan. Emergency assistance is available and can be delivered in less than 24 hours when a household has lost heat.

Minnesotans can apply for heating assistance through the Minnesota Department of Commerce or their local service provider agency.