Dear Neighbors,
The month of August is upon us, as is a stretch of high temperatures. Despite being well into summer, many people in our area are still struggling with high energy bills from this past winter as a result of February’s polar vortex. Practically overnight, ratepayers in Hibbing experienced over a 5000 percent hike in energy prices. This spring, Hibbing Public Utilities produced this video explaining the dynamics at play within the energy market and the reasons for the sudden increase.
Still, the hike represents a significant hardship for individuals, families, and businesses. Help is available from Minnesota’s Energy Assistance Program. In fact, thanks to the American Rescue Plan, the federal COVID-19 recovery passage which Congress passed and President Biden signed into law earlier this year, an additional $167 million is available for Minnesotans, an unprecedented amount.
The Energy Assistance Program can help with the following:
- Paying up to $1,600 for energy bills
- Providing more assistance, if needed for past due bills, to avoid disconnection, or get reconnected
- Repairing or replacing homeowners’ furnaces
- Providing referrals to the Weatherization Assistance Program for free home improvements to conserve energy and lower future energy bills.
More information, including instructions on how to apply, is available here from the Minnesota Department of Commerce. For many households, there is a particular urgency in applying for assistance as some shut-off notices have been mailed to consumers. If you know a friend or family member who is experiencing difficulty with utility bills, please share these resources with them.
Please don’t hesitate to contact me with your feedback or if I can ever be of assistance. It’s an honor to represent you.
Together,
Julie Sandstede
State Representative