Duke Energy Low Income Programs – Help with Electric Bills

Duke Energy Low Income Programs – Duke Energy’s financial customer assistance programs help with heating in North Carolina, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, and South Carolina. If you cannot pay utility bills, you can get emergency assistance.

Every year in the U.S., someone who could not afford to pay for heating freezes to death.  Often it is a senior citizen who was not aware there was help available to them.  This should never happen in a country as wealthy as America, and we want to get the word out to as many people as possible.

Thanks to government agencies, local advocacy groups, non-profits, and church organizations, struggling families and individuals can get help.  We encourage you to contact Duke Energy as soon as you realize you cannot pay your bill.  They are willing to work with you, make payment arrangements, or direct you to other assistance programs.

Duke Power Low Income Programs

1.  Share the Warmth

The Share the Warmth program helps struggling households pay for heating bills in the winter months.  It covers customers needing help in the Carolinas.  Funding comes from Duke Energy customers’ generous donations, and their gift is matched dollar for dollar up to a half-million dollars by Duke Energy.  All donations are tax-deductible.  Find heating assistance in your state.  Click on your state to out more about duke energy assistance programs near you.

Share the Warmth Fund
The Duke Energy Foundation
P.O. Box 35469
Charlotte, NC 28254-3429

2.  Winter Care Program

Winter Care Program – Duke Energy supports this benefit during the coldest months.   They help with heating bills in the Winter. If you qualify for the help, you can receive a not-time grant to help with your utility bills.  Duke Energy contributes $25,000 and matches dollar-for-dollar to help with heating bills up to $25,000.

3.  Duke Energy Installment Plans

When you set up installment payments, they assess your yearly bills and break them into even monthly payments.  The customer knows what to expect each month and gives the household additional time to catch up on past-due bills. They can also make special arrangements for elderly and disabled clients who can not do without their utilities.

4.  Helping Home Fund

This program is funded by donations, employees, and shareholders.  Older low-income residents up to 60 years old and disabled may be eligible to pay a portion of their heating bills.   The time to apply is the end of the Summer.  It is a Duke Energy assistance effort.  They help financially qualified households by:

1. Providing an energy assessment of your home
2. Help to make your home more energy-efficient.

The North Carolina Community Action Association oversees the program and is available to those who own a home or rent a residence.  Many low-income families spend more on utilities when they cannot pay for replacing or insulating windows and doors or repairing or replacing furnaces. The energy company will provide help with repairs or replacement of washing machines and air conditioners and up to $600 for repairs to heating and cooling units.  

5.  Free Fan Program

Every Summer, elderly residents pass away from heatstroke because they have no air conditioning or fans. Duke Energy’s assistance fund distributes free fans to low-income seniors. The state facilitates the air conditioner, Fan-Heat Relief Program, government, and non-profits. If you or someone you know needs help with a fan, contact Duke Energy to find where to sign up for help.

6.  Medical Alert Program

Special attention is made to assist chronically or seriously ill, handicapped, or customers on life-support who do not lose their services. These clients may have special medical needs, and their utilities could result in loss of life.  If you or a family member are ill and using life-saving medical equipment, please make the utility company aware.    Some situations are uncontrollable such as area outages or even disconnection of services. Please make alternative arrangements in case of an emergency.

Find out more here or Call: 800-943-6914 or Duke Energy at 1-800-777-9898

7.  North Carolina Period of Moratorium

The Moratorium period for South Carolina is December 1 through March 31st.

• Must be handicapped
• Unable to pay the full bill
• Must be 65 years old or older
• Unable to pay installments within six months

The Energy Crisis Assistance Program oversees the certification process. Once approved, the Department of Social Services will issue a Certification Utility Moratorium to the customer. This certificate should be mailed to the energy company. Please contact your local Department of Social Services office to request a copy of the form.

8.  Moratorium

The moratorium is a policy f compassion that refuses to disconnect customer residential service during a period of time, such as the coldest or hottest months of the year. This policy is not enacted across the board but for those who meet financial qualifications set by the NC Utilities Commission and the South Carolina Public Service Commission.

Requirements for South Carolina

A customer needing special consideration must get a doctor to sign a medical certification covering one month.  For more information call:   800-943-6914.

9.  Third-Party Notification

Third-party notification is a Duke Energy assistance program that allows the utility company to contact a friend or family member when the client is behind on their bill.  This is particularly helpful when you have an elderly, sick, at-risk family member.

10.  LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program)

This is a federal program that provides heating assistance for low-income families. Heat and cooling assistance are available for Kentucky, Ohio, Carolinas, and throughout the U.S.  Once a year, a check is sent to an approved household to help pay home heating bills.  You can register for help through the Department of Social Services or other community organizations.  Find out more about LIHEAP.

11.  Ohio Gas Residential Low Income Pilot Program

The Ohio Gas Residential Low Income Pilot Program makes lower rates available to low-income gas customers in Ohio.  Each year up to 10,000 eligible people participatesCFF in the program.

Qualifications are:

• You must be a low-usage customer (less than 900 CFF a year)
• Gross family income is at or below 175 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.
• I cannot presently be on another payment assistance plan

People Working Cooperatively
4612 Paddock Road, Cincinnati, OH 45229
Phone: 513.351.7921
Email: info@pwchomerepairs.org

Duke Energy Bill Assistance

You are eligible for help if you live in North Carolina and are a D.E. customer.  Or your gross family income is at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.  Help for Sick and Elderly Customers Customers 65 or older, disabled, or faced with a medical condition can often qualify for financial assistance or grants from Special Needs programs.

Duke Energy will assist customers with special needs by offering discounts, payment plans, or help with utility bills.  Duke Power has a policy of not disconnecting services to those 65 years old or old who have a serious medical condition or use life-sustaining medical equipment, such as oxygen or dialysis equipment.  Help is available in grants, and financial assistance is available through payment plans and discounts.

Duke Energy Pay Online

To pay your bill online, go to the Duke Energy website, and find and select your state.  Enter your zip code.  If you have a registered account, sign in and pay.  You can pay as a guest if you do not have an account.  You can also start service, report problems, and get bill assistance on-site.