FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Indiana Michigan Power (I&M) is continuing its commitment to help customers who are having difficulty paying their electric bill by providing an additional $200,000 to I&M assistance programs and temporarily expanding guidelines so more customers can benefit.
“Our customers are experiencing unprecedented financial hardships due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and I&M is committed to helping our neighbors throughout these uncertain times,” said Toby Thomas, I&M President and Chief Operating Officer.
In Indiana, I&M is contributing $175,000 to the Indiana Neighbor to Neighbor program.
To qualify for the Neighbor to Neighbor Program, customers must have a past-due bill and meet certain income guidelines. From now through December 31, I&M is raising the income eligibility for customers from 200% of the Federal Poverty Level to 250%. A family of four may qualify if they earn below $65,500 per year, or $5,458 per month.
In addition, the maximum grant to a family will increase from the current $250 to $350 through Dec. 31.
Hoosier customers have the opportunity to help their neighbors through an option appearing on monthly bills to contribute to the Neighbor to Neighbor program. Customers can make a one-time contribution; make a level monthly contribution; or “round up” their bill to the next whole dollar, with the excess going toward the Neighbor to Neighbor Program fund. For example, if a customer’s bill is $94.25, the customer can choose to pay $95, with a donation of 75 cents going to Neighbor to Neighbor.
I&M launched the Neighbor to Neighbor Program with a $50,000 company contribution, and customers have added to the fund with contributions of more than $48,500. Neighbor to Neighbor has helped pay the bills for more than 350 customers since April 2019.
“We want to thank our customers who join I&M in generously donating to the Neighbor to Neighbor program to help their fellow Hoosiers,” Thomas said.
In Michigan, I&M is providing $25,000 for a Michigan Energy Share Program. Income guidelines and the maximum grant are the same as the Indiana Neighbor-to-Neighbor program.
Michigan customers can apply at the Benton Harbor-based Southwest Michigan Community Action Agency by calling 269-925-9077. The agency also administers the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LiHEAP) and administers other programs that may provide assistance to customers.
In Indiana, customers can find the social service agency accepting applications in their area by going to IndianaMichiganPower.com/Neighbor
“We understand that some customers who have never sought assistance from social service agencies may be in a position where they will have difficulty paying their bill,” Thomas said. “We encourage eligible customers to contact the appropriate agency to see if they qualify for this assistance from I&M.”
All I&M customers who are having difficulty paying their bills are encouraged to contact I&M to discuss payment options. Customers can contact us at 1-888-710-4237; on the Indiana Michigan Power Facebook page; on twitter, @IN_MI_Power; and at IndianaMichiganPower.com/Assistance
For Neighbor to Neighbor, I&M is collaborating with Dollar Energy Fund, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, which in turn works with agencies that offer services where our Hoosier customers live.
Hoosiers who want to send their contribution directly to the fund by mail should make checks out to Dollar Energy Fund with Indiana Michigan Power Neighbor to Neighbor Fund in the memo line of the check. Mail to:
Dollar Energy Fund
P.O. Box 42329
Pittsburgh, PA 15203
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Indiana Michigan Power (I&M) is headquartered in Fort Wayne, and its approximately 2,100 employees serve more than 599,000 customers. More than two-thirds of its energy delivered in 2019 was emission-free. I&M has at its availability various sources of generation including 2,278 MW of nuclear generation in Michigan, 450 MW of purchased wind generation from Indiana, more than 22 MW of hydro generation in both states and approximately 15 MW of large-scale solar generation in both states. The company’s generation portfolio also includes 2,620 MW of coal-fueled generation in Indiana.
American Electric Power, based in Columbus, Ohio, is focused on building a smarter energy infrastructure and delivering new technologies and custom energy solutions to our customers. AEP’s more than 17,000 employees operate and maintain the nation’s largest electricity transmission system and more than 219,000 miles of distribution lines to efficiently deliver safe, reliable power to nearly 5.4 million regulated customers in 11 states. AEP also is one of the nation’s largest electricity producers with approximately 32,000 megawatts of diverse generating capacity, including 4,300 megawatts of renewable energy. AEP’s family of companies includes utilities AEP Ohio, AEP Texas, Appalachian Power (in Virginia and West Virginia), AEP Appalachian Power (in Tennessee), Indiana Michigan Power, Kentucky Power, Public Service Company of Oklahoma, and Southwestern Electric Power Company (in Arkansas, Louisiana and east Texas). AEP also owns AEP Energy, AEP Energy Partners, AEP OnSite Partners and AEP Renewables, which provide innovative competitive energy solutions nationwide.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Brian Bergsma
Director of Communications and Government Affairs
Indiana Michigan Power
317-670-3561
bebergsma@aep.com