How to Get Real Help With High Energy Bills

If your power or gas bill is more than you can handle, there are several specific types of help you can look for: formal assistance programs through government agencies and utilities, and informal help from nonprofits and local resources. You usually cannot get all your bills paid forever, but you may get one-time payments, ongoing discounts, or a structured payment plan.

1. The Main Types of Energy Bill Help You Can Use

Most households looking for help with energy bills end up using a mix of:

  • Government energy assistance programs (most commonly LIHEAP through your state benefits agency).
  • Utility company programs (payment plans, budget billing, discounts, or hardship funds).
  • Nonprofit and local charity help (short-term emergency payments or vouchers).

A practical first action today is to contact your utility company’s customer service using the number on your bill and say clearly: “I’m having trouble paying my bill. What assistance programs or payment plans do you offer?” This often opens the door to both internal utility programs and referrals to state or nonprofit assistance.

Rules, names of programs, and eligibility vary by state and utility company, so your options may not match exactly what you read online.

2. Where to Go Officially for Energy Bill Assistance

Two official system touchpoints handle most formal energy help in the U.S.:

  1. Your state or local benefits agency that administers LIHEAP

    • This is usually a state human services, social services, or community action agency.
    • Search for your state’s official “Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program” portal and look for a site ending in .gov or for a local Community Action Agency listed there.
    • They commonly help with heating and cooling bills, and sometimes with crisis assistance if you have a shutoff notice.

  2. Your gas/electric utility’s assistance department

    • This is usually reached through the main customer service number on your bill or through the “Help with Bills” or “Payment Assistance” section of the utility’s official website.
    • Many utilities have company-specific programs, such as low-income discounts, arrearage forgiveness (forgiving part of your past-due balance if you keep up with a plan), or emergency hardship grants (often funded through a charity arm).

When you’re unsure where to start, call your utility first, then contact your local LIHEAP office if you still cannot cover the bill.

Key terms to know:

  • LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) — Federal program run by states that helps low-income households with heating/cooling bills, usually once per year, sometimes with crisis help.
  • Shutoff / Disconnection notice — A formal notice from your utility that service will be shut off by a certain date if you don’t pay or arrange a plan.
  • Payment arrangement / payment plan — An agreement to pay your past-due balance over time in set installments while keeping current on new bills.
  • Arrearage — The amount you already owe (your past-due balance).

3. What to Prepare Before You Ask for Help

You will almost always move faster if you gather some basic paperwork and information before you call or apply.

Documents you’ll typically need:

  • Most recent energy bill (or several months of bills) showing your account number, service address, and any shutoff notice.
  • Proof of income for everyone in the household, such as recent pay stubs, Social Security benefit letters, or unemployment benefit statements.
  • Identification and residence proof, such as a state ID or driver’s license and a lease, mortgage statement, or another bill showing your address.

You may also be asked for Social Security numbers for household members, proof of citizenship or eligible immigration status for LIHEAP, and sometimes documentation of a crisis, like a medical letter if you have a medically necessary device that requires electricity.

When you contact your state benefits agency or community action office, have a pen and paper ready to write down appointment dates, case numbers, and the name of the program you’re applying for.

4. Step-by-Step: How to Apply and What Happens Next

Below is a typical sequence for combining help from both your utility and a government program.

  1. Call your utility company immediately

    • Use the phone number on your bill; choose the option for billing or payment assistance.
    • Ask for all available assistance options, including payment plans, medical hardship protections (if relevant), and referrals to external help like LIHEAP or local charities.

  2. Request a payment arrangement or extension

    • Ask specifically: “Can you set up a payment arrangement so my service doesn’t get shut off?” and “Can you extend the shutoff date while I apply for assistance?”
    • What to expect next: The agent may offer a down payment plus monthly installments, or a short-term extension; ask them to explain the exact amounts and dates and to send written confirmation by mail or email.

  3. Identify your local LIHEAP/energy assistance office

    • Search for your state’s official LIHEAP or energy assistance page and locate the application instructions.
    • Some states use an online portal; others require in-person intake at a Community Action Agency or county social services office.

  4. Gather your documents before applying

    • Collect ID, Social Security numbers, proof of income, and your latest energy bill or shutoff notice.
    • What to expect next: If anything is missing, the agency may mark your case as incomplete and not process it until you submit the missing items, which can delay help for weeks.

  5. Submit your LIHEAP (or similar program) application

    • Follow your state instructions to apply online, by mail, or in person at the listed office.
    • What to expect next: Typically you receive a receipt, confirmation number, or appointment date; keep this, as you may need it when talking to your utility.

  6. Inform your utility that you applied for assistance

    • Call your utility again and say: “I applied for LIHEAP (or [program name]) on [date]. Can you note this on my account and keep my service on while it’s processed?”
    • What to expect next: The utility may place a temporary hold on disconnection or adjust your payment arrangement, but this is not guaranteed and depends on their rules and state regulations.

  7. Watch for your approval or denial notice

    • The LIHEAP or assistance office will usually send a written notice stating whether you’re approved, the amount of help, and whether they’ll pay the utility directly.
    • What to expect next: If approved, you often do not get a check yourself; instead, a payment is made directly to the utility, and you should see a credit on your bill in a later billing cycle.

5. Real-World Friction to Watch For

Real-world friction to watch for

A common problem is that people wait until after the shutoff date to ask for help; at that point, reconnect fees and deposits can be added, making the total much harder to manage. Another frequent snag is incomplete applications to LIHEAP because one pay stub, ID, or Social Security number is missing; agencies typically will not finalize the application until everything is provided. Staying on top of deadlines on your shutoff notice and responding quickly to requests for missing documents can prevent weeks of delay.

6. Other Legitimate Help Options (Beyond LIHEAP and the Utility)

If LIHEAP funds are not available, you’re over the income limit, or you still have a balance even after help, there are additional legitimate places to check.

Local nonprofits and community organizations

  • Many areas have Community Action Agencies, faith-based charities, and local relief funds that offer one-time emergency payments toward utility bills.
  • Call 2-1-1 (where available) to ask about “utility bill assistance” in your area; they typically refer you only to recognized nonprofits and government resources.

Weatherization and efficiency programs

  • State energy offices and some utilities sponsor weatherization programs that can reduce energy usage by improving insulation, sealing leaks, or replacing inefficient appliances.
  • These don’t fix an immediate shutoff, but they can lower future bills and sometimes prioritize households already struggling to pay.

Licensed nonprofit financial or credit counselors

  • A licensed nonprofit credit counseling agency can review your budget, help you prioritize keeping utilities on, and sometimes contact the utility on your behalf to negotiate more affordable payment terms.
  • Look for organizations clearly identified as nonprofit, and verify they are accredited or recognized by a reputable national counseling body.

Scam warning: Any person or site asking for upfront fees, gift cards, or your online account password in exchange for “guaranteed” bill pay or fast-track approval is a red flag. Always apply only through official .gov portals, recognized nonprofit agencies, or the utility company itself, and never send personal documents to unverified email addresses or social media accounts.

Once you’ve made that first call to your utility and identified your state LIHEAP or local energy assistance office, you’ll be in the formal system for help; your next focus is making sure your documents are complete, you track deadlines and confirmation numbers, and you follow up promptly whenever the agency or utility asks for more information.