Information About a $200 Bill Credit from MGE
Financial assistance is available to help customers who are behind on their energy bills. Applying for assistance may help prevent late-payment charges, collection action or the potential disconnection of utility services.
Right now, Madison Gas and Electric (MGE) customers who received an email, text message or phone call encouraging them to apply for and receive energy assistance also will receive a $200 bill credit from MGE.
1. Check your eligibility.
See if you qualify for energy assistance from the Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program (WHEAP) crisis funds to help pay your energy bills.
Eligibility requirements:
- Your household must pay heating costs directly to a fuel or utility company, or your heating costs are included in your rent.
- There must be at least one payment of at least $25 toward your utility account in the last 90 days.
- Your gross income is less than the amount shown below for your household size:
| 2025–2026 Guidelines (10/01/2025 through 9/30/2026) | ||
|---|---|---|
Household Size | One-Month Income | Annual Income |
1 | $3,201.75 | $38,421 |
2 | $4,186.92 | $50,243 |
3 | $5,172.08 | $62,065 |
4 | $6,157.33 | $73,888 |
5 | $7,142.50 | $85,710 |
6 | $8,127.67 | $97,532 |
7 | $8,312.33 | $99,748 |
8 | $8,497.08 | $101,965 |
2. If you qualify, apply for WHEAP crisis funds to receive the $200 bill credit from MGE.
This bill credit will reduce your current account balance with MGE by $200. If payments or energy assistance brought your balance to $0 or below, the $200 credit will still be applied to your account.
- Apply online: energybenefit.wi.gov
- Apply by phone: 1-800-506-5596
A new application is required for each program year, which runs from October 1 through September 30. You will need to reapply, even if you received help in previous years.
Information you will need:
- Date of birth for you and everyone who lives in your home
- Income information from all sources for all adults in your home
- Fuel type(s) used in your home
- Name of the fuel or utility company that delivers energy (MGE)
- Account number for each fuel or utility company (10-digit number found on your MGE bill)
- Landlord first and last name or management company name
- Landlord address
- Landlord phone number
Documents you may need:
Uploading documents may help speed up your application. You do not need to upload every document listed below—only those that apply to your household or situation.
Examples include:
- Documentation for proof of income for all adult household members. Depending on the source of income, this could be:
- Paychecks or pay stubs paid in the month prior to your application date
- W-2 forms
- 2025 tax returns
- Child support statement for the month prior to your application date
- Fuel or utility bill
- Rental lease (when applicable)
3. If you were contacted directly for this new program from MGE and you are approved for and receive energy assistance, you will qualify for a $200 credit from MGE.
This is separate from the application process above through WHEAP.
To receive a $200 bill credit from MGE, complete an application for assistance (step 2 above). If approved and you receive assistance funding, you will qualify for the bill credit from MGE.
You will see the credit on your MGE bill within two months of the assistance payment being posted to your account.
Once you are approved for energy assistance, you will also be eligible for MGE’s Back on Track program, which can help reduce your past-due balance.
MGE’s Back on Track offers financial assistance to customers with limited income or health-related energy needs who have a substantial past-due account balance. To be eligible, you must have received energy assistance benefits within the last two years. Certified life-sustaining equipment customers also are eligible.
Important information:
- Only your primary residence is eligible for Back on Track.
- Once enrolled, your existing arrears will be set aside with 1/12 of the initial arrears amount being forgiven for each current monthly bill balance that you pay in full. After full payment of 12 monthly bills, you will have a current and past-due balance of zero.
- If you are participating in the program, you are not subject to disconnection or late-payment charges.
- If you do not pay a current bill in full within 60 days of sending your bill, you will be removed from the program. You may be eligible to re-enroll after a waiting period.
For more information about or to enroll in Back on Track, contact MGE Customer Services at 608-252-7000.
