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The Affordability Discount portion of the CARE program is at maximum capacity and applications are closed. A waiting list has been created and can be accessed through the link below. If funding becomes available, a representative from Minnesota Power will contact customers in the order received.

Automatic enrollment for the $20 Flat Discount under the CARE program will continue for senior or disabled customers who qualify through energy assistance and/or our self-declaration process.

CARE: Customer Affordability of Residential Electricity

Minnesota Power is pleased to offer income-qualified customers a discount on their electric bill with our CARE program. If you qualify for the Energy Assistance (EAP), you may be eligible for an electric bill discount! EAP qualified customers who are senior, or living with a disability, will be automatically enrolled.

The CARE program includes two discount options for customers:

Flat Discount
There is no application for this monthly $20 discount. Customers who qualify for Minnesota Power’s Residential Service Income- and Usage-Qualified Discount or Minnesota’s Energy Assistance Program (EAP), who are also of senior age or living with a disability, will be automatically enrolled. The discount is applied to each monthly bill as long as the total bill, before taxes and fees, is at least $20. Customers who qualify for CARE only through the Income- and Usage-Qualified Discount must apply and qualify for EAP in order to keep their CARE discount for more than one year.

Affordability Discount
This discount requires a quick one-page application. Funds are limited and are offered first-come first-served. Apply for this discount if you spend more than 3% of your annual income on electric bills.

Applications are currently closed for this portion of the CARE program. See the waitlist option below.

Take Action!

Online applications are currently down. We are working to resolve the issue.

Follow these steps to start saving money on your electric bill:

  1. Complete your LIHEAP application with your local energy assistance provider.

    Find your local energy assistance provider here.

    OR

    Complete Minnesota Power’s Residential Service Income- and Usage-Qualified Discount Self-Declaration Income Eligibility Application here.

    Customers who qualify for CARE only through the Income- and Usage-Qualified Discount, must apply and qualify for EAP in order to keep their CARE discount for more than one year.
  2. To be added to the waitlist for the Affordability Discount, do one of the following: complete this quick online submission, email your name, address, e-mail and phone number to CARE@mnpower.com, or call a CARE representative at 218-355-3500.

Please note: Once enrolled on the CARE rate you will remain enrolled until you are no longer EAP qualified. Therefore, you will need to reapply for EAP with your local energy assistance provider every year.

Income Requirements

There are two ways to meet the income requirements for CARE – through Minnesota Power’s self-declaration process for the Income- and Usage-Qualified Discount or by qualifying for the EAP.

  1. Minnesota Power’s Self-Declare Process: For Minnesota Power’s Income- and Usage-Qualified Discount, household income must be at or below 60% of the state median income or a member of the household must participate in a listed income-based program. Please note, this option for CARE eligibility only applies to the first year a customer self-declares. Continued eligibility for the CARE program, beyond this initial exception, requires applying and being approved through EAP (option 2 below).
  2. Energy Assistance Program (EAP): Households with income at or below 50 percent of the state median income may qualify for EAP. Eligibility is based on your income in the previous month. EAP eligibility guidelines have been updated for this program year, starting October 1. View the new guidelines here. Customers do not need to accept Energy Assistance funds in order to qualify for CARE, but they do need to apply for, and be approved into, the program in order to receive any CARE discount.

What You Will Pay:

Flat Discount
When a bill is over $20, you will receive a $20 discount on that bill, each month.

Affordability Discount
This chart shows estimated monthly billing amounts and savings under the CARE Affordability Discount.

* Estimated monthly billing amounts include all items on bills (e.g., fuel adjustment, cost recovery rider adjustments, etc.) except sales tax and municipal franchise fees.

Other Information and Resources:

Customer Testimonials

Full names have been excluded to protect customer privacy.

"CARE is a lifesaver. I can stay in my home!" – J

"I went through some tough times and everything was overdue. It gives me money to stay close to being on budget." – L

"Thank you from the bottom of my heart. My husband is on so many medications and this helps us afford the co-pay. We are so grateful." – T

"I am a diabetic and the savings help me eat healthier." – J

Minnesota Power’s parent company, ALLETE, has entered an agreement to be acquired by a partnership led by Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and Global Infrastructure Partners and start the process to become a private company.

This transaction will not change our operations, strategy or shared purpose and values, and it is business as usual for all of us at Minnesota Power. Learn more at www.ALLETEforward.com.