Energy Programs

The Energy Assistance Program is a federally funded program administered through the Minnesota Department of Commerce. The program provides financial assistance to help with household winter heating bills.  Both homeowners and renters may apply. Assets, such as the home, are not considered in determining eligibility.  A household must complete the application process to determine eligibility and the amount of their utility assistance. Electronic signatures are not accepted, please sign the application before you send. Financial assistance payments are made directly to the household’s utility company.

To contact us: email us at eap@semcac.org or Call 1-800-944-3281 for an application or with questions or use our Semcac Message Center.  If you have additional questions or concerns for the Department of Commerce, please visit their website, here.

After-Hours, No Heat, furnace emergency, please call (507)500-4693.
(Regular business hours are 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday – Friday)

The Energy Assistance Program is a federally funded program administered through the Minnesota Department of Commerce. The program provides financial assistance to help with household winter heating bills. Both homeowners and renters may apply. Assets, such as the home, are not considered in determining eligibility. A household must complete the application process to determine eligibility and the amount of their utility assistance, please sign the application before you send. Financial assistance payments are made directly to the household’s utility company.

What to expect:

Applications are generally processed in the order they are received. However, we prioritize home heating emergencies, such as an energy shutoff, running out of heating fuel, or a broken furnace when funding is available (after Mid November) . We appreciate your patience as we process the many applications we receive each day. After reviewing your application, we will notify you if we need additional information or if your application has been approved or denied.

Get to know the Energy Assistance Program

Energy Assistance Impact Report

  • Our program service area covers the following Counties: Dodge, Fillmore, Freeborn, Houston, Mower, Steele, Winona
  • You rent or own your own home
  • Your income and household size qualify (Listed Below)
  • You are able to provide the following information for the application:
    • Contact information (Phone number, Email, and home address)
    • Details about each household member, such as names, birthdays and social security numbers (if a household member does not have a SSN, Other acceptable forms of documentation can be used to verify identity and eligibility.
    • Information about any income your household gets from jobs, government programs or any other source of income.
    • Account information for utility companies that provide heat or electricity to your home.
    • Details about your home, such as the amount you pay for your monthly rent or mortgage.

2026-2027 Income Eligibility Guidelines

Household Size One Month Max. Guidelines Annual Income
1 $3,205 $38,464
2 $4,191 $50,299
3 $5,177 $62,134
4 $6,164 $73,969
5 $7,150 $85,804
6 $8,136 $97,639

For larger household guidelines, visit: Energy Assistance Program / Minnesota Department of Commerce – Energy

A Energy Crisis is defined by:

  • Having a disconnect notice, Already Disconnected.
  • Less than 20% of fuel in your tank to heat your home.
  • You are a senior above the age of 60 with a past due balance.

The Energy Assistance Program currently does not have crisis funds are not yet available. And are typically available mid November. If you are currently experiencing an energy emergency, please follow the following steps

  • Contact your Energy Vendor
    • Typically Energy Vendors never want to see clients in a hardship where you are at risk of loosing heat! Please reach out to your vendor to set up a payment plan and explore further options
  • Reach out to local resources listed on the “View Energy Resources” page on the left hand side (Desktop) or the Bottom of the page (Cell phone, tablet etc)
  • Reach out to your local County Services or Outreach Emergency Services department to get further information on resources within your community. listed on the “View Energy Resources” page on the left hand side (Desktop) or the Bottom of the page (Cell phone, tablet etc)

  • How to apply for Energy Assistance
  • How to Complete a Paper Application
  • How to Complete an Online Application
  • Application Requirements
  • How to Collect Online Income Verification
  • Safe at Home Application Instructions
  • What to Provide for Income Information
    • Wages: EAP may use your SSN to verify wages reported by your employer. We may ask you to provide check stubs or other verification if we are unable to verify your wages. If your income has recently gone down you will need to provide proof of your most recent full calendar month of wages from the month before you sign your application.
    • MFIP, GA, DWP: County statement showing MAXIS report for last 3 months prior to application signature date.
    • Spousal Support or Alimony: Check copies, bank statements, or a note signed by the payor stating the payment amount and dates, or other proof of amount received.
    • Veteran’s Benefits, Social Security, RSDI and SSI: Award letters, bank statements showing direct deposits, or check copies.
    • Workers’ Compensation, Short Term and Long Term Disability: Benefit award notice, copies of workers’ compensation or disability checks, workers’ compensation records, or attorney’s records.
    • Unemployment Compensation: EAP may verify this income for you. If we are unable to verify, you will need to provide proof.
    • Self-Employed, Farm, and Rental Income: IRS 1040 including the signature page and Schedule 1. If you did not file taxes, call your Service Provider and ask for a Self-Employment Form.
    • Interest, Dividends: Bank statements, IRS-1099, or IRS-1040.
    • Retirement Income including IRA income: Benefit checks/stubs, bank statements or award letters.
    • Pensions and Annuities: Benefit checks/stubs, bank statements or award letter.
    • Tribal Per Capita, Bonus, or Judgment Payments: Benefit checks/stubs, bank statements or award letter.
    • No Income: If your household has no income and no one is self-employed, call your Service Provider.

Once you’ve filled out your application and collected all required documentation, submit your application materials to (Address) or eap@semcac.org.

The grant amount is based on your household size, household income, the type of housing you live in and what it cost to heat your home the last heating season.

Your energy grant amount is based on the above information. The grant amount is a one-time assistance, payable in 1 payment and deposited directly to your utility account. Each household’s grant amount is different and has no reflection on how much is owed to the utility company. Remember, this is an assistance program and it is not designed to pay all of your heat and/or electric costs. You are responsible for your utility bills and will need to make monthly payments to maintain your service.

If you received the Primary Energy Grant, then you could be eligible for Energy Assistance Crisis funds. If you are in threat of disconnection/20% or less fuel, contact our office and we will let you know what is available and a emergency assistance referral if needed.

ERR funds are available to help with a repair or replacement of a “no heat” or malfunctioning heating system for an owner-occupied home. Any work must be authorized to CAP-appointed contractors to ensure service coverage, funding, and availability. Individuals must be eligible for Energy Assistance.

Please call 1-800-944-3281 during business hours.  If it’s after hours, Holidays, or Weekends and you have a no heat emergency, please call 507-500-4693.

*The Energy Assistance Program will not reimburse any households for furnace work not authorized/completed by one of our CAP appointed mechanical contractors.*

*The Energy Assistance Program does not have funding for air conditioning units. We are not authorized to work on, reimburse, or fund AC units.*

Emergency heating system repair or replacement (to owner-occupied EAP eligible households, only). To receive assistance a household must apply for the Energy Assistance Program. Click here for energy assistance application.

Spanish: FFY27 EAP Application – Spanish

Hmong: FY27 EAP Application – Hmong

Somali: FFY27 EAP Application – Somali

Russian: eap-application-russian.pdf

Vietnameese: FFY27 EAP Application – Vietnamese

Please be prepared to provide name, birthdate, and social security numbers for all household members.  You must also include account numbers for all household utilities.  PLEASE REMEMBER TO SIGN AND DATE YOUR APPLICATION.

You are required to submit the following:

  • Fully completed application. Please follow along with the video from below.
  • Provide one month proof of any and all household income (pay stubs showing wages, benefit award letter for Social Security, etc.) Please see the instruction form with the Energy Assistance Application.
  • If you receive cash assistance (MFIP or General Assistance) or if you are on unemployment during the 6 months prior to date of application, you will be required to provide documentation going back 6 months to determine eligibility.

Please Note:

We process applications in the order that they are received and it may take up to 90 days. During that time, contact your energy provider to schedule a reasonable payment plan.

If you are facing a disconnection or are already disconnected, please visit our energy resources page for further information, or call 507-864-8249 for further resources.

Grant Information

  • Grant Program: LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) through the Minnesota Department of Commerce
  • Grantee Agency: Semcac
  • Address: 204 S Elm Street, P.O. Box 549, Rushford, MN  55971
  • Phone: 1-800-944-3281
  • Email: eap@semcac.org

Leadership & Oversight

  • Executive Leadership: Jennifer Hengel, Executive Director
  • Grant Oversight: Melissa F., Energy and Housing Director and Morgan S., Energy Assistance Program Manager

To view a list of EAP service providers, listed by county, visit this page on their website.

FAQs

The Energy Assistance Program season begins October 1 each year, and runs until the end of May the following year. You can apply one time per heating season.

It is available on this website, or call 800-944-3281 to have one mailed to you, or your local County Semcac office has applications available for pickup, these are also available after hours. If you cannot complete the application yourself, please call for an appointment.

Please refer to the detailed instructions that come with the application as to income/benefit verification.

You can mail your application to Semcac, PO Box 549, Rushford, MN 55971, email to eap@semcac.org or fax to 507-864-2597.

The guidelines change each new season. Please see the current guidelines above.

You will receive confirmation that we received your application. Applications are processed in the first-come/first-serve basis and are generally processed within 30-60 days, depending on the information you provide. Important- an incomplete application will delay processing.

The grant amount is based on your household size, household income, the type of housing you live in and what it cost to heat your home the last heating season.

Your energy grant amount is based on the above information. The grant amount is a one-time assistance, payable in 1 payment and deposited directly to your utility account. Each household’s grant amount is different and has no reflection on how much is owed to the utility company. Remember, this is an assistance program and it is not designed to pay all of your heat and/or electric costs. You are responsible for your utility bills and will need to make monthly payments to maintain your service.

NO – If you feel you meet the eligibility guidelines for the Energy Assistance Program, apply as soon as you can. This program has limited funding.

If you received the Primary Energy Grant, then you could be eligible for Energy Assistance Crisis funds. If you are in threat of disconnection/20% or less fuel, contact our office and we will let you know what is available and a emergency assistance referral if needed.