MARQUETTE — A little change goes a long way.

Customers of the Marquette Board of Light and Power can now seek assistance for their electric bills through the company’s new Generating Change program from November until March by filling out an application through the Salvation Army in Marquette.

Those seeking assistance with their electric bills through the BLP should call Salvation Army to set up an appointment, said Jamie Ray, a case manager at Salvation Army.

“Everything is by appointment only,” Ray said. “After someone sets up an appointment, they’ll receive a letter in the mail with an application to fill out and bring to the appointment.”

Eligibility for the program is based on whether or not a household income is at or below 150 percent of the state poverty guidelines. If approved, households may receive a maximum of $425 in assistance per application.

Last month, the BLP and Salvation Army hosted a 5K Fun Run and 1-Mile Walk event where all monetary proceeds went toward the program. Food items were also donated to the Salvation Army’s food pantry.

Ray said the Salvation Army is happy to be partnered with the BLP.

“We’re just super pleased and excited the BLP chose us as the driving force to help them with this awesome program that they want to assist the community with,” she said.

The Generating Change program recently received a generous donation of $10,000 from mBank.

“With the $10,000 donation from mBank, we can help at least 20 families, which is a great start,” Mager said, adding that $1,000 was raised through various donations and the 5K and 1-mile event.

BLP customers who want to donate to the program can choose to round up their monthly bill to the nearest dollar, donate a flat amount every month or drop off a check or cash at the BLP’s office as a one-time donation.

One-time donations are accepted from anyone who would like to donate, not just customers. The Salvation Army will also accept monetary donations to the program at its office.

“Any customers can sign up for the round-up program. It doesn’t matter if they’re commercial or residential,” Mager said. “It doesn’t matter if they’re on the budget plan or automatic payments, anybody can sign up for it. It’s a really wonderful program because that money is going to help a lot of people.”

After Public Act 95, a low-income assistance program that was established by the state, became effective in 2013, municipal utilities had the opportunity to either participate in the program or opt out. The BLP decided to opt out of the program.

When a utility opts out, it’s unable to turn any customers’ power off for non-payment of their bills from Nov. 1 to April 15. Since the BLP can’t turn customers’ electricity off, the state does not consider them to be in-threat of shutoff, even if their balances are continuing to increase.

After April 15, customers are eligible for state funding again which is handled by the Department of Health and Human Services.

“We opted out of the Public Act 95 which would have required customers to send 93 cents or so downstate every month, which wouldn’t have been guaranteed to come back here,” Mager said. “The U.P. has a small population compared to the rest of Michigan. We have been sending almost $200,000 downstate each year from our customers and we would get $30,000 or $40,000 back, maybe. We want to keep the money local.”

Jaymie Depew can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 206. Her email address is jdepew@miningjournal .net.