Promise Funds Program
Promise Funds is a new energy assistance program administered by Holland BPW to provide customers in need with funds for electric and heating fuel bills. This program allows eligible customers to reserve up to $500 for electric bills and $500 for heating fuel bills such as natural gas, propane, wood or oil.
The application for Promise Funds will open on October 1, 2026.
Who Can Get Promise Funds?
Eligibility for this program is determined by income. To receive Promise Funds you must fall under at least one of the two categories below:
Be at or below 60% of the State Median Income (SMI)
Household Size | 1 Person | 2 People | 3 People | 4 People | 5 People | 6 People |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
60% of SMI | $37,372 | $48,872 | $60,371 | $71,871 | $83,370 | $94,869 |
Families with more than 6 members add $2,156 per additional person.
or
Be enrolled in or qualify for one of the following programs:
- Community Action House Food Club
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
- Head Start
- Michigan Home Heating Credit (HHC)
- State Emergency Relief (SER)
How the Promise Funds Program Works
Step 1: Apply
Select the Apply* button and upload your documents with your application. Please note that we cannot consider an application until we have received all required documents.
- Proof of identity/residency
- Driver’s license/state ID, lease, utility bill, tax bill
- Proof of eligibility (only one needed)
- Income verification: pay stubs, prior year’s tax return, SSA letter, pension letter, or unemployment letter
- (If applicable) Verification of enrollment in SER, SNAP, TANF, SSI, WIC, Head Start, or HHC: Bridge card
Applications will open October 1st. The "Apply" button will be available at that time.
Step 2: Reserve Funds
We will let you know if you are approved for the program. Approved applications will include the amount approved and the program year in which you can use them.
We cannot consider an application until all required documents have been received.
Step 3: Request Payment
Funds do not automatically apply to your account. You must request that the available funds be applied to your electric account or sent to a heating utility/vendor.
Simply call or email BPW with your upcoming or past due bill amount and ask to use your Promise Funds. The amount due will be paid on your behalf through your Promise Funds. Call 616.355.1577 or email us.
Step 4: Funds Applied
For electric requests, BPW will apply payments to the electric portion of your BPW bill only. For heating requests, BPW will make payments to your heating utility or vendor on your behalf.
The application for Promise Funds will open on October 1, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, funds do not roll over. If you do not use your funds within the program year (Oct 1 – Sept 30) of your approved income determination, they go away. Customers must reapply each program year to receive Promise Funds.
About the Promise Funds Program
The State of Michigan requires all electric utilities to participate in the State's Michigan Energy Assistance Program (MEAP) or fund a program of their own. The State's program requires that a utility's customers pay a fixed charge as part of their electric bill, called a Low-Income Energy Assistance Funding Factor. Holland BPW electric customers previously saw this as a LIEAF charge on their bill.
Instead of participating in the State's program, we have chosen to create the Promise Funds program, which is our self-funded assistance program. Promise Funds uses the same eligibility guidelines as the State's MEAP. Promise Funds helps all eligible electric customers up to the total dollar amount that would have been collected by the LIEAF charge. Our Promise Funds program is administered by Holland BPW staff, with the goal of making the process as simple and easy as possible for customers in need.
Additional Resources
Other Payment Assistance Programs
Learn about budget billing, winter-shut off programs, EmPOWER and more.
Rebate Assistance
See if you also qualify for additional funds to help make improvements your home while saving money on energy bills. Items eligible for rebates include electric hot water heaters, heat pumps, electric lawn mowers and more.