Stop Electric Bill Shut Offs. Utility assistance programs help low-income families every day. Utility companies can set service limits for customers past due on their bills and experiencing an outage. If you are late paying your bill, the electric company may shut off service to your home.
However, some State and charity organizations provide emergency help with your electric bills. There are, however, certain requirements to get help. We will review the agencies that help and how to qualify for assistance.
How to Prevent Electric Bill Shut-Offs
Before you lose your utility services, know how to delay this action. Water, gas, and electric companies can not turn off your service if:
Know Your Rights
There are specific situations where the electric company can not turn off your utilities, such as during cold weather in northern states. Many states have some turn-off restrictions based on the temperature of the winter months (32° F and below).
If you live in a state that gets very cold, you can not lose your electricity between, say, the months of November and March. This will be when you seek financial help from churches, charities, or government assistance programs. (State Disconnections Policies)
Arrange for a Payment Plan
Electric companies will allow you to make a payment plan that can make it easier to pay your energy bills. When you realize you have a financial hardship, such as illness, loss of employment, or job hours, contact your utility company to set up a payment plan. You will still have to pay your electric bill, but budget billing breaks it into 12 monthly payments of the same predictable amounts.
Sign up for LIHEAP Assistance
Sign-up for this government assistance program usually takes place in the late summer to early fall. If you are low-income or your gross family income is at or below the US Government Poverty requirements, you can receive a check each January to help with electric bills and help prevent shut-offs.
Talk to your Electric Company
The best thing you can do to prevent electricity from being shut off is to keep your utility company informed. The utility company often has low-income programs or can direct you to other help. Together, you can make arrangements to prevent losing your services.
Inform your Company of Medical Situations.
Contact your utility company to inform them you have someone in the home who is sick or needs electricity to run a medical device, such as oxygen. Provide your electric company with verification of medical needs from your physician.
Other Ways to Prevent Electric Bill Shut-Offs
Contact your electric company as soon as you fall behind in your payments. Do not wait to receive a disconnection notice. This is what you want to do.
- Tell the utility company you are having difficulties paying the bill.
- Ask for a payment plan to break the bill into 12 monthly payments.
- Request an extension before a turn-off notice is sent
- Finally, put in a financial hardship claim if you qualify for financial assistance.
Programs that Stop Loss of Utilities
HUD Utility Allowances
HUD (Home and Urban Development), along with help with housing, provides low-income assistance with bills like rent, utilities, electricity, and security depositing assistance for renters. They also provide a monthly utility allowance for electric bill payments to Section 8 recipients and those living in public housing. It is automatically added to the monthly housing allowance. (more)
LIHEAP Energy Assistance
If you receive SNAP, WIC, or TANF, you may qualify for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). If you want to apply for assistance, contact the Department of Human Services or a community poverty agency. Each participating agency receives a budget each year.
Funding is limited, and families with children and older people have preference over single adults with no children. For help with electric bill payments, contact LIHEAP (202) 401-9351 or the National Energy Assistance Referral Project at 866-674-6327. You can receive help with,
- Electric, water, and gas bills
- Stop the loss of your services.
- Home Weatherization Grants and Energy-saving Home Repairs
Home Weatherization Assistance Program
This program’s goal is two-fold. They provide necessary home repairs to low-income. They can make or replace a broken or faulty water heater and repair leaking roofs doors, and windows that lose heat. Their goal is to make homes energy efficient.
They help save on energy so the homeowner can save on electric utility bills. Additionally, they make home repairs safe for those with a disability and older adults. (Find out how to get home repairs)
Charities that Help Prevent Electric Bill Shut-Offs
The Salvation Army
Families in crisis can get help with electric, gas, and water bills. They work with the government to screen and pay mandatory household bills like rent and utilities. Salvation Army can assist those who qualify when funding is available. If monies are unavailable, they can give referrals to other agencies that can help. (How the Salvation Army helps with Christmas)
St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church
St. Vincent de Paul provides outreach to the community on many levels. They try to meet essential and are dedicated to serving lower-income populations. For that reason, they support families, individuals, older adults, those with disabilities, and families without housing and provide social services, financial assistance, and counseling to lower-income families.
Above all, contact this organization if you are in danger of having your utilities disconnected or evicted. (How St. Vincent de Paul Church helps families with low incomes)
Modest Needs
This may be a great option if you work and don’t qualify for government assistance. Modest Needs is a non-profit organization that helps low-income working families and individuals take care of bills and other essential household needs. You can apply for a grant here.
Catholic Charities
Catholic Charities is a faith-based organization that aids lower-income families, those living with a disability, and immigrants to help maintain families’ stability. They provide feeding programs, like grocery distribution and feeding home-bound older adults. For that reason, you are facing eviction or disconnection of utilities. They can pay some or all of the rent or utility bills. How to get financial help from Catholic Charities)
Assistance Programs that Help with Utility Bills
There are state assistance programs that can help prevent the loss of your services and help you get them turned back on. You must qualify financially to receive help.
- HUD
- LIHEAP
- Modest Needs
- Catholic Charities
- The Salvation Army
- Home Weatherization Assistance
- St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church
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