Wisconsin Energy Assistance 2026–27: 5 Easy Steps to Apply

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Updated October 9, 2026 · Written by the AMSY Editorial Team · Reading time: 9 min

Wisconsin energy assistance is delivered through the Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program (WHEAP), part of the state’s Home Energy Plus (HE+) services. For the 2026–27 program year, a household of four can qualify with a gross income of up to $76,661 a year, and a single person with up to $39,864.

This guide explains who qualifies, how the income test works, what you need to apply, how emergency help works, and what to do if you are turned down. Every figure comes from the state’s own program documents, which we read on October 4, 2026.

Key takeaways

The 2026–27 program year for Wisconsin energy assistance runs from October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027. The regular heating payment is available during the heating season, October 1 to May 15.
You may qualify if your household’s gross income is at or below 60% of Wisconsin’s median income: $39,864 a year for one person, $52,129 for two, $64,395 for three and $76,661 for four.
You can apply online at energybenefit.wi.gov or through your county’s local agency. The state’s help line is 1-866-HEATWIS (432-8947).
Benefits are not guaranteed: the state says that when a program year’s funds run out, no benefits are issued, even to eligible households.
If you have no heat or are about to be disconnected, ask for crisis assistance. Agencies must respond within 48 hours, or within 18 hours when there is an urgent safety concern.

Wisconsin energy assistance: the short answer

WHEAP helps eligible households pay heating and electric bills. It is funded by the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and by Wisconsin’s Public Benefits program, which is paid for by a fee on electric customers’ bills, according to the state’s WHEAP page. The program is run by the Wisconsin Department of Administration’s Division of Energy, Housing and Community Resources, and you apply through a local agency in your county or online.

The regular Wisconsin energy assistance benefit is a one-time payment during the heating season. It pays a portion of your energy costs and is not meant to cover your whole bill, according to the 2026–27 program brochure. In most cases the payment goes directly to your energy supplier. The state says its programs pay energy assistance to over 180,000 households each year, and the federal LIHEAP Clearinghouse counted 182,938 Wisconsin households helped with heating in fiscal year 2024.

When does Wisconsin energy assistance start in 2026–27?

The 2026–27 program year started on October 1, 2026 and runs through September 30, 2027. The regular heating benefit is available during the heating season, October 1 to May 15, so you can submit your energy assistance application now. Apply online at energybenefit.wi.gov or through your county’s local agency.

Once you apply, the state’s manual says you must send complete and accurate information within 30 days. You have the right to a payment or a letter of explanation within 45 days from the date the application process is completed. If you have no heat or have received a disconnect notice, ask for crisis assistance instead: agencies must respond within 48 hours, or within 18 hours when there is an urgent safety concern.

Income limits for Wisconsin energy assistance in 2026–27

Your household may qualify if its gross income, before taxes and deductions, is at or below the amounts below. They equal 60% of Wisconsin’s median income and apply to the 2026–27 program year (October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027).

Household size	Monthly income	Annual income
1	$3,322.00	$39,864
2	$4,344.08	$52,129
3	$5,366.25	$64,395
4	$6,388.42	$76,661
5	$7,410.58	$88,927
6	$8,432.75	$101,193
7	$8,624.33	$103,492
8	$8,816.00	$105,792

How income is counted for Wisconsin energy assistance matters. The program uses your household’s gross income for the one month before the month you apply, then annualizes it to estimate a full year. For people who are self-employed, farmers or seasonal workers, income is based on the previous year’s federal income tax forms.

A way to qualify above the limit: categorical eligibility

A household over the Wisconsin energy assistance limit can still pass the income test if every member received Wisconsin Works (W-2) cash benefits, FoodShare or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) for the whole month before the application. The state’s manual says Social Security retirement benefits and SSDI cannot be used to establish this status, and that a household where only some members receive those benefits does not qualify this way.

What kinds of Wisconsin energy assistance exist

Regular heating and electric benefits. Homes heated with wood, propane, natural gas, electricity or fuel oil can receive heating assistance, and some households also get a payment for non-heating electric costs. You can receive one regular heat benefit and one regular non-heat electric benefit per program year. The amount depends on household size, income and energy costs, and payments below $30 are not issued. For fiscal year 2026 the LIHEAP Clearinghouse listed heating benefits from $30 to $2,147; we did not find the 2026–27 maximum in the documents we read.
Crisis assistance. Help if you have no heat, have received a disconnect notice, or are nearly out of fuel and cannot buy more (details below).
HVAC and water heater help. Eligible homeowners, and in some cases renters, can get help repairing or replacing a heating system that no longer works or is unsafe. A separate program helps with non-working or leaking water heaters.
Weatherization. The same application is used to decide eligibility for the Weatherization Assistance Program, which can add insulation, seal air leaks, update a heating system or provide energy-saving products.

How to apply for Wisconsin energy assistance, step by step

Step 1: Check the income table above to see whether your household size fits the Wisconsin energy assistance limits.
Step 2: Gather your documents. The state’s applicant checklist (revised June 2026) asks for the Social Security number and date of birth of every person in the household; a document showing lawful immigration status if you are not a U.S. citizen; your energy account number, evidence of your primary heating costs for the last 12 months and your electric bills; your landlord’s name, address and phone number or your lease if you rent; and proof of your household’s gross income for the month before the month you apply, such as pay stubs, tax documents or award letters.
Step 3: Apply. Apply online at energybenefit.wi.gov, or by phone, mail or in person through your county’s agency (use the state’s county map). You can also call 1-866-HEATWIS (432-8947).
Step 4: Send complete information. The manual says applicants must provide complete and accurate information within 30 days of the application date.
Step 5: Wait for the decision. You have the right to a payment or a letter of explanation within 45 days from the date the application process is completed.

Every county has a local agency, and there are agencies for six of the state’s tribes. You can submit more than one application during the program year, and being turned down does not stop you from applying again.

Wisconsin energy assistance in an emergency

Crisis assistance can help if you do not have heat, have received a disconnect notice, or are nearly out of fuel. Local agencies provide a 24-hour crisis phone number for emergencies after business hours. Under the state’s rules, an agency must respond to a crisis request within 48 hours, or within 18 hours when there is a potential urgent safety concern. Do not wait until you have run out of fuel: call your agency as soon as you get a disconnect notice or see that your tank is low.

Crisis payments go to your energy provider, not to you.
You must have paid at least $25 in the last three months on the energy account you are asking for help with.
The minimum crisis payment is $100, the annual maximum is $1,600, and you cannot receive more than two crisis payments per program year. Agencies can ask the state’s help desk for exceptions.

Winter shutoff rules and payment plans

Wisconsin’s Public Service Commission (PSC) describes a winter rule, from November 1 through April 15, that limits disconnections of the service that provides your primary heat. The rule has exceptions, so do not assume you are covered: contact your utility early. On its customer rights page the PSC also explains budget billing, which spreads your estimated yearly usage into equal monthly payments, and deferred payment agreements, which let you pay an overdue balance in installments. If you cannot resolve a problem with your utility, the PSC’s consumer line is (800) 225-7729.

If you are denied or need more help

You can ask for a fair hearing if your application was not processed on time, was denied incorrectly or the payment is wrong. The state publishes an appeal form.
If your circumstances change, a new Wisconsin energy assistance application during the same program year can lead to an award, according to the manual.
The LIHEAP Clearinghouse lists emergency charitable funds for people who were denied or need more crisis help, including the Keep Wisconsin Warm/Cool Fund and Heat and Housing for Heroes (1-800-891-9276), and funds run by some utilities and co-ops. It describes them as last-resort funds with limited resources and hours.
Customers of utilities that run their own Commitment to Community program are not eligible for the state’s Public Benefits payments, but may get help from that utility’s own program.

Lower your energy bills while you wait

Wisconsin energy assistance pays part of a bill. Using less energy lowers the next one. If you want to know what an energy audit includes and what it costs, see our guide to home energy audit cost, which also explains how the federal Weatherization Assistance Program offers no-cost audits to income-eligible households. In Wisconsin, the application you use for energy assistance is also used to decide weatherization eligibility.

Not in Wisconsin? Our guide to CT energy rates shows how electric bills and winter shutoff protection work in Connecticut.

FAQ

Does Wisconsin energy assistance pay my whole bill?

No. It pays a portion of your energy costs and is not intended to cover the whole bill. The amount depends on household size, income and energy costs.

Can renters get Wisconsin energy assistance?

Yes. If you rent, the checklist asks for your landlord’s details or your lease. If heat is included in your rent, the state calculates the benefit from a table of average heating costs instead of your own bills.

When does Wisconsin energy assistance start in 2026?

The program year runs from October 1 to September 30, and the regular heating benefit is available during the heating season, October 1 to May 15. You can submit more than one application, but you can receive only one regular heat benefit and one regular non-heat electric benefit per program year.

How long does it take to get approved?

The state’s manual gives you the right to a payment or a letter of explanation within 45 days from the date the application process is completed. For crisis requests, agencies must respond within 48 hours, or 18 hours if there is an urgent safety concern.

What if my income is just over the limit?

Households over the limit are denied unless they are categorically eligible (see above). Income is measured for the single month before you apply, so if your situation has changed, a new application may lead to a different result.

Our verification method

On October 4, 2026 we read the state’s WHEAP page, the Program Year 2027 WHEAP Manual (revised August 2026), the applicant checklist (revised June 2026) and the 2026–27 program brochure, all published by the Wisconsin Department of Administration’s Division of Energy, Housing and Community Resources. We also read the federal LIHEAP Clearinghouse profile for Wisconsin (last updated April 20, 2026) and the Public Service Commission’s customer rights page. Wisconsin energy assistance rules, income limits and funding change, and the state says benefits are not guaranteed, so confirm details with your local agency before you rely on them. This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. You can read more about how we work on our About page.

Sources

Wisconsin Energy Assistance 2026–27: Who Qualifies and How to Apply

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