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House passes low-income heating fund bill

LANSING, MI (AP)--   Michigan utilities could add up to a $1 surcharge to electric bills to provide heating assistance to the poor under legislation that has passed the state House. 

The bill approved 86-21 Thursday is designed to find permanent funding for a low-income heating fund that was ended by a 2011 state appeals court ruling.

Utilities could opt out of charging the fee. But they would have an incentive to participate because they otherwise would be barred from shutting off service to delinquent accounts from November to April.

Supporters say many utility customers in Michigan paid a similar monthly surcharge before. Critics oppose raising customers' bills.

The Senate previously passed a different version of the bill, so it's expected to win final approval soon.

Nicole was born near Detroit but has lived in the U.P. most of her life. She graduated from Marquette Senior High School and attended Michigan State and Northern Michigan Universities, graduating from NMU in 1993 with a degree in English.