Public Acts 168 and 169 of 2024 overhaul the Low‑Income Energy Assistance Fund (LIEAF) by removing the old statewide cap, which gradually grows the pot of money available to help households with energy bills. Public Acts 170 and 198 of 2024 and Senate Bills 353, 880, and 881 (signed December 2024), require utilities to participate in either MEAP or an equivalent assistance program, increase total MEAP funding to $100 Million by 2028, and expand income eligibility to 60% of State Median Income.
Together, these laws will bring relief to hundreds of thousands of Michiganders.
Our Energy Goals:
100% Clean Energy
Transitioning to reliable, 100% clean, renewable, equitable energy is vital for our state to achieve the carbon emission reduction goals of the Governor’s MI Healthy Climate Plan. This transition will protect the health of communities across Michigan by reducing pollution from dirty sources of energy and ensure our children have a healthy, liveable future.
Cutting Costs and Curbing Waste
We can reduce costs to consumers by making significant investments in energy efficiency, and with affordable, reliable clean, renewable energy, which is cheaper than coal and natural gas. Promoting cleaner electric vehicles and fuels that reduce our dependence on fossil fuels for transportation saves consumers and the state money while reducing waste.
New Jobs for New Technologies
We have an opportunity to create thousands of good paying jobs building clean energy technologies and batteries and by weatherizing our homes and businesses to make them more energy efficient.
Bill/Act | What Does this Act or Bill Include? |
PA 168 and PA 169 (2024) | Public Acts 168 & 169 of 2024 make changes to the Low-Income Energy Assistance Fund (LIEAF) which funds the Michigan Energy Assistance Program (MEAP) by removing the cap of $50 million and allowing for monthly surcharge on utilities that opt-into the LIEAF to increase increments of $0.25 until the surcharge reaches $2.00. These Acts require the utilities that opt-out of LIEAF to provide a heating and electric energy assistance program equivalent to the Michigan Energy Assistance Program to their customers. |
PA 170 | Public Act 170 of 2024 makes changes to the Michigan Energy Assistance Program (MEAP) which distributes the LIEAF by administering programs statewide that reduce energy insecurity by providing energy assistance and self-sufficiency services to eligible low-income households. It also increases the income eligibility to 60% State Median Income. |
PA 198 | Public Act 198 of 2024 (introduced as SB793) amends the Plant Rehabilitation and Industrial Development Districts Act (PA 198 of 1974) to update procedures for industrial tax exemptions. This provides tax incentives for manufacturing facility renovations and high-tech development aimed at bolstering the emerging local clean energy industry. |
SB 353 | Senate Bill 353 of 2023-2024 aims to expand the state's low-income energy assistance program (MEAP) by increasing eligibility from 150% to 200% of the federal poverty level. The bill also removes specific restrictions on using the low-income Energy Assistance Fund, allowing for more flexible use of funds outside the traditional winter crisis season. |
SB 880 & SB 881 | Senate Bills 880 and 881 of 2023-2024 focus on modifying the Michigan Energy Assistance Act to adjust the funding mechanisms for low-income energy assistance programs. They amend the Low-Income Energy Assistance Fund to manage surcharges on utility meters for energy assistance. |