Stay Curious. Stay Connected.
MailNewsletters♡Donate Now
Sign up
*Password must be at least 8 characters and contain one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, one number and one symbol.
Already have an account?
By submitting, you consent that you are at least 18 years of age and to receive information about MPR's or APMG entities' programs and offerings. The personally identifying information you provide will not be sold, shared, or used for purposes other than to communicate with you about MPR, APMG entities, and its sponsors. You may opt-out at any time clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any email communication. View our Privacy Policy.
Sign in to your profile
Forgot Password?
New to MPR News?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Reset Password

Enter the username on file and we'll send you a code to reset your password.

Still require assistance or not sure what your User Name is?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Email Verification

A verification code has been emailed to

Still awaiting the code?
Politics and Government News
Dan Gunderson
Moorhead, Minn.

More home heating crisis funds for low income Minnesotans

Oil Prices Rise As Winter Approaches
John Cody from MacFarlane Oil delivers heating oil to a home in Boston, Massachusetts. Increased heating fuel prices are expected to be a maojor burden for some consumers this year.
Darren McCollester | Getty Images

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

The cost of home heating is higher, especially in rural areas where many people depend on oil or propane.

The energy assistance program provides crisis funding when residents have no other resources to pay for home heating.

"You're running low on your heating oil or your propane, or you get a disconnect notice from your your utility, you can access this extra benefit” said Michael Schmitz, Director of the Energy Assistance Program at the Minnesota Department of Commerce. “At the beginning of the year, that crisis maximum was $600 and we just increased it to $1,500.”

The decision to increase the crisis funding was made after monitoring demand, cost and available funding Schmitz said.

About 40,000 low income Minnesota households which are eligible for heating assistance need crisis funding to stay warm in a typical winter.

“I wouldn’t necessarily expect this increase in the benefit amount to increase the number of households who are accessing that benefit, but it will certainly increase the amount they are able to get. Which is I think really important in a year like like this one where energy costs are higher,” Schmitz said. “I would expect that it'll just be that much more expensive to get fill-ups of fuel oil or propane. So this is really going to help ensure that we're able to actually get a meaningful fill for folks.”

The additional crisis funding is possible because of $19.7 million in supplemental funding received last month after Congress approved the aid as part of a continuing resolution to fund the federal government.

About 125,000 Minnesota households apply for low income heating assistance in a typical heating season.