Past Due Accounts

Delinquent bills

Great Lakes Energy will print any past due amount or delinquent notice on your monthly bill. If you receive one of these notices, please contact our office immediately to arrange payment so your service will not be shut off. If your service is shut off, additional fees apply.

If You Are Unable To Pay

If you are unable to pay your bill in full, call us to make payment arrangements. If your account remains unpaid after the due date, it is considered delinquent and our usual collection procedures, including notice of intent to discontinue service, will begin.

To make a payment online click here.

Need Help Paying?

Please contact us before high bills become a problem in order to be protected against loss of your electric service. For information on bill payment assistance through the Department of Human Services, click here.

Read on for more details on payment assistance programs offered.

Assistance Programs and Credits

The Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) along with the state’s regulated utilities offer the following heating assistance programs and credits. Please read to see if you qualify. For more information visit the MPSC’s Be Winter Wise website.

Emergency Winter Protection Plan

Contact: Great Lakes Energy at 1-888-485-2537

The new Emergency Winter Protection Plan protects senior and low-income members from service shutoffs and high utility bill payments during the winter months (November 1 – March 31). Enrollment begins Nov. 1. To participate, you must agree to the terms of the Winter Protection Plan for the upcoming heating season.  If you are an eligible low-income member, your utility service will remain on from November 1-March 31, if:

you pay at least 7% of your estimated annual bill each month, and

you make monthly payments of 1/12 of any past due bills.

When the protection period ends (March 31), from April 1 through October 31, you must begin to pay the full monthly bill, plus part of the amount you owe from the winter months when you did not pay the full bill. Participation does not relieve members from the responsibility of paying for electricity and natural gas usage, but does prevent shut-off during winter months.

You qualify for the plan if you meet at least one of the following requirements:

you are age 65 or older,

you receive Department of Human Services cash assistance

you receive Food Stamps,

you receive Medicaid, or

your household income is at or below the 150% of poverty level shown in the Income Guidelines chart below.

Senior citizen members (65 or older) who participate in the Winter Protection Plan are not required to make specific payments to ensure that their service will not be shut-off between Nov. 1 and March 31. However, seniors are encouraged to pay whatever they can during the winter so they will not have large, unmanageable bills when the protection ends.

The chart below is updated each November.

Winter Protection Plan
Income Guidelines (2009-2010) MORE INFORMATION  

Number of Household Members	150% of Poverty Guidelines Maximum Income
1	$16,245
2	$21,855
3	$27,465
4	$33,075
5	$38,685
6	$44,295
7	$49,905
8	$55,515

Add $5,610 for each additional household member.

Note:

All members 65 years or older are eligible regardless of income. Members are responsible for all electricity and natural gas used. At the end of the protection period, all participating members – both low-income members and those 65 years old and older – participating in the plan must make arrangements with their utility company to pay off any money owed before the start of the next protection period.

Home Heating Credit*

Contact: Michigan Department of Treasury, toll-free phone 1-800-827-4000

You can apply for a Home Heating Credit for the 2011 tax year if you:

meet the income guidelines

you own or rent the home where you live in Michigan, or

you qualify based on alternate guidelines including household income, exemptions, and heating costs.

If you qualify, you may receive assistance to help pay for your winter heating bills.

Forms are available in January wherever tax forms are provided, or from the Michigan Department of Treasury (call 1-800-827-4000), or on the Internet. The Home Heating Credit claim form must be filed with the Michigan Department of Treasury before September 30, 2011.

Crisis Assistance Program

Contact: Michigan’s Department of Human Services, toll-free phone 1-800-292-5650

The State Emergency Relief Program (SER): You do not have to be a client of the Department of Human Services to apply. This program is available year-round, subject to the availability of funds, to assist low-income households that have a heat or electric shut-off or a need for deliverable fuel. However, if you receive an DHS cash grant, you may vendor part of that grant towards heat and electric bills. Contact your DHS caseworker for information on vendoring a cash grant.

Low-Income Home Weatherization

Contact: Michigan Department of Human Services Weatherization Assistance Program

You may be able to receive help with weatherizing your home to reduce energy use if you meet low-income eligibility guidelines and funding is available. Weatherization may include caulking, weather-stripping, and insulating.

Medical Emergency Protection

Contact: Great Lakes Energy at 1-888-485-2537

You are protected from service shut-off for non-payment of your electric bill for up to 21 days at a time, not to exceed 63 days, if you have a proven medical emergency. You must provide written proof from a doctor, public health or social services official that a medical emergency exists.

Shut-off Protection for Military Active Duty

Contact: Great Lakes Energy at 1-888-485-2537

If you or your spouse has been called into active military duty you may apply for shut-off protection from your electric or natural gas service for up to 90 days. You will still be required to pay, but we will help you set up a payment plan.