Low-Income Programs

The Consumers Energy’s Income-Qualified Energy Efficiency Assistance Program consists of various residential initiatives serving households that meet the income criteria of being at or below 200% of the federal poverty level (FPL) or 80% of AMI. This program aids single-family, income-eligible Consumers Energy customers to reduce energy consumption and improve comfort in their home. It offers no-cost direct services that include energy efficiency upgrades, home energy assessments and energy-saving education.

The program collaborates with local stakeholders, such as the municipal government, Community Action Agencies, Habitat for Humanity, United Way 211, Housing Commissions, and many additional non-profit organizations. The program uses a variety of delivery strategies and delivery channels, such as home energy assessments, food bank lighting distribution, collaboration with community-based organizations, and deeper weatherization measures. The program leverages other funding sources such as the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP), Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), and philanthropic funds to complete housing retrofit/weatherization projects. When offering rebate incentives to community-action agencies or community-based organizations, utility program funding is leveraged with other funding sources such MSHDA Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) or available financing options.

The Consumers Energy Multifamily Energy Efficiency Program consists of various offerings for customers that meet the eligibility requirements for the program. Multifamily is defined as properties containing 3+ units under a single roof.  Income qualified is defined as 66% of tenants living at or under 200% of the federal poverty level or 80% of AMI. This program offers direct install of free products including LED bulbs, pipe wrap, showerheads and faucet aerators.  The program also provides access to prescriptive measures for HVAC, lighting, water heating and building envelope improvements. Any projects that do not qualify under the prescriptive measures can also apply for a custom project where the savings are calculated based on actual energy savings.  Customers are also eligible to receive an assessment which identifies recommendations and measures that customers may take advantage of energy efficiency upgrades in their properties. In 2020, Consumer Energy launched a single family and multifamily Health and Safety Pilot. The program works with nonprofits to improve home conditions—including plumbing, roof, mold, moisture, and indoor air quality—that needs to be remedied so that energy efficiency measures can be installed. This pilot program has been expanded through 2023.

In 2021, according to Consumers Energy, it saved 29,991 MWh in electric savings, while spending $14,493,194 on its low-income program and served 130,807 low-income customers with their program.

DTE offers the Energy Efficiency Assistance Program which provides recommendations, direct installation of qualified energy efficiency measures and education to income-qualified DTE customers in order to assist them in reducing their energy use and managing their utility costs. The program leverages the services provided by member agencies of the Michigan Community Action Agency Association (MCAAA), municipalities, counties, public housing commissions, faith-based institutions, community development corporations, and nonprofit organizations with existing housing and energy programs. direct installation of qualified EWR measures and education to income-qualified DTE customers in order to assist them in reducing their energy use and managing their utility costs. The residential Low-Income Program also includes customers residing in designated low-income multifamily units.

DTE delivers “incentive” funding to low-income customers through a variety of in-kind services, such as weatherization, furnace tune up and replacement, insulation, water heater replacement plus the replacement of inefficient refrigerators with ENERGY STAR® model refrigerators in single-family homes and low-income multifamily dwellings, and in-home consultation and installation of energy-efficient measures through the Home Energy Consultation (HEC) Program. Low-cost measures such as LEDs, pipe wrap, energy efficient showerheads and faucet aerators are installed at no cost to low-income multifamily tenants. The low-income multifamily program also expanded its measure offerings to multifamily tenants to include more expensive items, such as refrigerators, also at no cost to the customer. 

DTE streamlines eligibility requirements by using the same requirements as many other programs for low-income customers. Through the Energy Efficiency Assistance program, DTE partners directly with local agencies, municipalities, counties, public housing commissions, faith-based institutions, community development corporations, and nonprofit organizations to offer housing and energy programs. DTE also offers a multifamily low-income program that provides direct install of energy efficiency measures in multifamily rental properties, provides energy information and education to tenants, ensures participation is clear and easy, and covers a portion or all of the cost for common area improvements. DTE also offers two additional programs for low-income customers: 1) Home Energy Consultation Low-Income, and 2) Home Energy Reports for low-income customers.

In 2021, according to DTE, it achieved 1.32 MMtherms in energy savings, while spending $10,923,245 and serving 12,649 natural gas customers.

Multifamily Programs

The Consumers Energy Multifamily Energy Efficiency Program offers equipment incentives to building owners that include lighting, lighting controls, heating, cooling, ventilation, water heating, building envelope and custom measures, for whole building energy retrofit opportunities for major renovation/new construction. The program also includes direct install measures for tenants and common areas that include lighting, aerators, showerheads, pipe wrap, and thermostats. For income qualified customers, expanded measures are offered for air sealing and insulation, smart thermostat and some appliances.

In 2021, according to Consumers Energy, its multifamily program achieved 12,968 MWh in savings and served 94,452 households. The expense for this program is not available at this time.

DTE provides two comprehensive programs for multifamily properties. The Multifamily In-Unit Improvements Program offers no-cost direct install of energy efficient lighting, showerheads, faucet aerators, programmable thermostats, and pipe wrap installation where units have electric water heating. The program also conducts a free energy assessment to identify other potential energy-saving upgrades. Additionally, these utilities offer the Multifamily Common Areas Improvements Program, which offers rebates for common area measures such as interior and exterior lighting, furnace/boiler upgrades, water heating, air conditioning, building and duct insulation, programmable thermostats, and ENERGY STAR windows.

In 2021, DTE’s multifamily program achieved 0.66 MMtherms in energy savings while spending $2,515,602 and serving 3,500 households.

Last Updated: September 2023