Heating Bill Help Still Available: Consumers Energy Encourages Qualifying Residents to Apply For Michigan Home Heating Credit by Sept. 30

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Aug 28, 2014, 06:00 ET

JACKSON, Mich., Aug. 28, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Michigan homeowners may still receive help paying their heating bills if they file by Sept. 30 for a State of Michigan Home Heating Credit. Residents can qualify for the assistance if their homestead is in Michigan, they own or rent their home, apartment or mobile home, and meet income guidelines (see link below).

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MORE ASSISTANCE INFO AVAILABLE AT: www.consumersenergy.com/assistance

"Consumers Energy encourages all residents who qualify to apply for a Home Heating Credit by Sept. 30, because it is one of the few funding resources still available to help pay last winter's heating bills," said Whitney Skeans, customer assistance manager. "The average credit equals about two months of heating costs, so this help can certainly help make energy more affordable for those struggling to make ends meet."

Funded by the federal Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), the Home Heating Credit is based on household size and income. It can be applied to all heating costs, including propane and purchased firewood, as well as natural gas and electric. Applicants do not need to file a state tax return to receive this credit.

Since January, more than 79,000 Consumers Energy customers have received a credit averaging about $141 per household. Last year 367,000 Michigan residents received more than $45 million dollars in aid through the Home Heating Credit program.

The Home Heating Credit Claim form (MI-1040CR-7) is generally available wherever other tax forms are provided. Forms can also be obtained from the Michigan Department of Treasury at (517) 636-4486, at www.michigan.gov/taxes, at Consumers Energy bill payment offices, at www.consumersenergy.com/assistance or by calling the utility at (800) 477-5050. For residents in Wayne, Oakland, Macomb and Livingston Counties, free filing assistance is still available through the Accounting Aid Society (866) 673-0873.

Consumers Energy, Michigan's largest utility, is the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy (NYSE: CMS), providing natural gas and electricity to 6.5 million of the state's 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties.

For more information about Consumers Energy, go to www.ConsumersEnergy.com, join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ConsumersEnergyMichigan and follow us on Twitter www.twitter.com/ConsumersEnergy.

SOURCE Consumers Energy