Help in Paying Your Electric or Gas Bill in Washington County

Unfortunately, there is not enough money to help everybody with their heating bills. You can get help through local community agencies. But most of the time, these agencies only know month-to-month if they have enough money to help people pay their energy bills. Even then, it is first-come, first-served.

Energy assistance is given to families who meet certain income guidelines, which is generally about $40,000 for a family of four, but you need to check with the individual agency.

How Energy Assistance Works

If you are eligible to receive assistance, the nonprofit agency will call your utility and make a commitment to the agency to pay all or part of your bill. This will appear as a credit on your bill.

Because the credit may take up to 90 days to appear on your utility bill, you should continue to try to pay what you can on your bill, even if you’ve gotten a commitment that it will be paid. Some energy assistance agencies require that you have a current shut-off notice or have outstanding bills to the energy company in order for them to help you.

How to Get Utility Assistance
In order to receive energy assistance, you may have to be pre-screened on the phone, or screened when you walk in. You will have to give:

Your name, address and phone number
Annual income
Number of people living in your home
If you live in subsidized housing or not (affordable housing, Section 8, etc.)
Your utility company

When you apply for assistance, you will need to bring:

ID and/or proof of residency – you do not have to be a United State citizen to receive assistance, but you will need to bring some proof of residency, such as a driver’s license or your utility bill. Your personal information is NOT REPORTED to the authorities.
Proof of income, including pay stubs, alimony support, welfare, etc.
Current utility bill