Michigan’s Great Southwest dodged a late attempt to keep winter alive when forecast snow failed to develop Thursday, but there’s another major sign of the end of winter that you will do well to pay attention to if you are behind in paying your cold weather natural gas bill. Failure to do so could lead to having your gas shut off.
With Winter Protection Plan agreements no longer in place, Michigan Gas Utilities is strongly urging customers who are behind on natural gas bills to contact the utility immediately. Customers carrying past due balances are currently at risk of disconnection.
Customers with past due balances who have not set up payment arrangements should contact Michigan Gas Utilities as soon as possible at 800-401-6402. A minimum payment option and flexible payment plans may be available. Customers at risk of disconnection will receive a phone call and have a notice mailed to them to advise them of their account status.
Unfortunately, scammers have been known to target customers with threats of immediate disconnection at this time of year. A common scam pressures customers to make immediate payment using a prepaid card (e.g., MoneyPak card or Green Dot card). Michigan Gas Utilities never solicits payment in this manner. Customers who receive suspicious calls or emails should contact Michigan Gas Utilities immediately to verify the status of their account.
Some customers may qualify for energy assistance. The names of county energy assistance agencies along with contact information can be found on Michigan Gas Utilities’ website at the link below:
http://www.michigangasutilities.com/home/assistance_agencies.aspx
Customers are also encouraged to call 211 or the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services’ energy assistance hotline at 855-275-6424 for additional information on energy assistance. Don’t wait until it’s too late.
