LENAWEE CO. — Consumers Energy will begin contacting seniors this month to offer help with higher heating bills following an especially cold winter.
The utility says customers 65 and older with account balances of $200 or more will receive phone calls March 10 and March 12 to review their accounts and discuss payment assistance options.
Shut-off protections remain in place for customers 65 and older through April 1. However, monthly charges will continue to accrue.
Eligible customers must not already be enrolled in an installment or CARE plan.
Consumers Energy says it made more than 20,000 outreach calls to seniors last year and expects to reach even more in 2026.
Seniors who believe they qualify can call 1-800-477-5050 to review available options.
The effort is part of a broader $5 million statewide initiative aimed at helping customers manage higher winter energy costs.