St. Paul, Minnesota — State Representative Mary Sawatzky (DFL – Willmar) is informing constituents that the Department of Commerce and the Department of Public Safety will be staffing a hotline to provide consumers a one-stop shop to help with questions about the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and concerns about possible price fixing and price gouging.
The hotline number is: 1-800-657-3504 and will be taking calls from 9:00 am-4:30 pm.
“If you need assistance, please don’t hesitate to call this hotline,” said Rep. Sawatzky. “This is a great resource and a one-stop shop filled with people ready to help.”
The Commerce Department has increased Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) crisis payments to $1,000 for applicants currently heating their homes with propane and heating oil. This crisis funding will help reduce the financial burden of high heating costs for low income Minnesota households in your districts and across the state. Information on how to apply for crisis funds is available from the hotline or at mn.gov/commerce/energy/consumers/Heating-Assistance.
Other forms of assistance may be available through county social service programs, community-based organizations, and nonprofit agencies. See the Stay Warm Minnesota webpage for a list of resources.
Rep. Sawatzky encourages constituents to contact her with any questions on this issue. Rep. Sawatzky can be reached by phone at 651-296-6206 or by email at rep.mary.sawatzky@house.mn. Constituents can also visit Rep. Sawatzky’s AreaVoices blog, legislative page and sign up for email updates.