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Milwaukee — Wisconsin’s January has been a milder January than it used to be, but this week it’s been brutally cold with even cooler winds.
Many people turn up the heat in their homes and apartments just to keep them warm. But every time your thermostat goes up, your utility bills go up.
We Energies spokesman Brendan Conway said the price increase was due to the cost of natural gas.
“That’s what drives these bills, right? The cost of natural gas, which we don’t make a profit on, is about 60% of your total bill,” Conway said. The less natural gas we have available, the lower our bill will be.”
Conway said the last few days have been very cold, but with warmer days in February when people don’t have to “blast furnaces” as much, the bill could be self-sufficient.
But now, with all costs high, many need help paying their bills on time.
Approximately 112,000 homes benefit from the Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program during what the state calls “heating season.” To date, she has provided over $59 million in financial assistance to families in need.
There are income limits to qualify for WHEAP. Her single-person household with an annual income of $31,103 or less is eligible. A family of four can qualify for $59,813 or less per year.
Conway said energy companies such as We Energies also have ways to help.
“Instead of being overwhelmed, I say, ‘Call me,'” he said. “There are so many different programs and options available to us that they are really customer specific. The first step is to contact us and we can work with them to ensure you stay warm without being overwhelmed by some sort of energy bill.”
Click here for more information on WHEAP.
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