JACKSON, Mich., Sept. 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Low-income Michigan residents still have time to apply for a Home Heating Credit to help pay their winter energy bills. Home Heating Credit forms must be postmarked by Sept. 30. Forms are available at most public libraries, Department of Human Services offices, Secretary of State branch offices, and the Michigan Department of Treasury's website at http://www.michigan.gov/treasury. The Department of Treasury offers help in filling out the forms at 800-827-4000. (The form is MI-1040CR-7.) Last year, 327,543 Michigan residents got $57.9 million in aid through the program, which is funded by the federal Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). "Low-income residents still have time to get assistance through the Home Heating Credit, but they've got to act now," said Debra Harmon, who is responsible for Consumers Energy's low-income, senior citizen, and special needs assistance programs. "Statewide, only about a third of those eligible applied for LIHEAP energy assistance last year. That means a lot of people in Michigan missed out on getting this help for their heating bills," she added. The credit can be applied to all heating costs, including propane and firewood purchased through a state of Michigan Home Heating Credit provider. Harmon noted that November's Consumers Energy bills will include an insert describing the various energy assistance programs available to help low-income residents and senior citizens. Consumers Energy, the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy, provides natural gas and electricity to more than six million of Michigan's nearly 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties. For more information about Consumers Energy, visit our Website at http://www.consumersenergy.com/ DATASOURCE: Consumers Energy CONTACT: Jeff Holyfield, +1-517-788-2394, or Dan Bishop, +1-517-788-2395, both of Consumers Energy Web site: http://www.consumersenergy.com/ Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/203850.html

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