Behind on your electric bill? Moratorium ends, but help is available



MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Keeping up with this winter's heating bills has been tough for just about everyone, including Seceana Merriweather. She's one of thousands of people in the greater Milwaukee area who received a heat shut-off notice as the winter heating moratorium ends.

During the winter heating moratorium (from November 1st through April 15th) utilities will not disconnect customers even if they fall behind on payments.

Now that the moratorium has ended, those who are behind on payments could face disconnection.

"It is kind of a struggle because then you have to budget out your payment plan for the rent, for the electric, for the phone bill," said Merriweather.

If you got a notice, you still have options to prevent your heat from being shut off.

You can begin by calling We Energies and setting up a payment plan.

"If you are calling us and having that dialogue and trying to make arrangements to get caught up on your bill that is the first step," said We Energies Spokesperson Cathy Schulze.

You can also get help paying your bills through energy assistance programs at the Social Development Commission.

"It could be a few hundred dollars based on the number of people that live in the household and their income and the type unit in which they live in," said SDC Energy Assistance Program Manager Sandra White.

If the disconnection is pending or if you have been disconnected, you could get crisis benefits.

To qualify you must have made at least four payments over the last six months of a minimum of $35 a month.

"We may even help them get into a payment plan. There are some payment plans that we offer that we give so much a month and then they pay so much. It's kind of proactive service," said White.

Now that Merriweather has received energy assistance she's feeling a sense of relief, and like many of us -- looking forward to warmer days ahead.

We Energies officials say heating bills on average have been 35% higher this winter compared to last winter due to the extreme cold.

For more information on energy assistance programs call 211 or CLICK HERE.

You can call We Energies to set up a payment plan at 800-842-4565.