Heat and Electric Assistance

Wisconsin’s Home Energy Assistance Program (WHEAP) provides home heating assistance to eligible households. Indian tribal agencies and community agencies under the direction of the Division of Energy. Operating primarily with federal funding, the program provides assistance to approximately 140,000 households annually.

Heating Assistance
WHEAP heating assistance is a one-time benefit payment per heating season (October 1 through May 15). It is intended to help pay a portion of a household’s heating costs, not the entire annual cost of heating a home.
The amount of heating assistance benefit depends on the household’s size, income and heating costs. In most cases the heating assistance benefit is applied directly to the household’s bill with the fuel supplier.

Electric Assistance
WHEAP electric assistance is a one-time benefit payment per heating season to eligible households. It is intended to help pay a portion of a household’s electrical costs.
The amount of the electrical assistance benefit depends on the household’s size, income, and electric costs. In most cases the electrical assistance benefit is applied directly to the household’s electric account.

Crisis Assistance
A household may be eligible for crisis assistance if it has no heat, received a disconnect notice from its heating fuel dealer, if it is nearly out of heating fuel and does not have any way to pay for its heating needs, or if a heating emergency can be avoided. WHEAP crisis assistance provides both emergency and proactive services.
Emergency services may help a household during the heating season from October 1 through May 15. These services can include the purchasing of heating fuel, providing a warm place for a household to stay for a few days, or needed furnace repair or replacement.

Proactive WHEAP services are available through the entire year to avoid future emergencies. Proactive services include training and information on how to reduce fuel costs, counseling on money management, providing payments to fuel suppliers when a household agrees to a co-payment, and other actions to help avoid future emergencies.

How to Apply

Households must complete a Home Energy Plus application through the local WHEAP agency. Households need to provide information on their income and heating costs.
For more information call: 1- 866-HEATWIS (432-8947).