Need Help Paying Your Black Hills Energy Bill in Colorado? Here's What's Available
Black Hills Energy serves natural gas and electric customers in Colorado, primarily in the southern and eastern parts of the state. If you're behind on your bill, the company runs several programs directly which this page goes over. They also may connect customers to state and nonprofit resources. Knowing how they fit together saves time when you need help fast.
Call First — Payment Plans and Extensions
If you're behind and haven't called yet, that's the first step. Black Hills Energy can set up payment arrangements on past-due balances and discuss your options before the account reaches disconnection. Calling early — before a shutoff notice arrives — gives you more flexibility than calling after. Reach Black Hills Energy customer service at 888-890-5554.
BHEAP — Black Hills Energy Affordability Program
BHEAP is Black Hills Energy's income-based bill assistance program, approved by the Colorado Public Utilities Commission. It caps your monthly energy bill at a percentage of your household income — so instead of facing a bill that has nothing to do with what you can actually afford, your payment is set to a level tied to what you earn. The program covers both gas and electric Black Hills customers in Colorado.
For gas customers specifically, if you're approved for Colorado's LEAP program, Black Hills Energy will automatically enroll you in BHEAP for a one-year cycle — you don't have to apply separately. Electric customers need to apply directly. You can submit an application online at blackhillsenergy.com (website: https://www.blackhillsenergy.com/app-bheap/form) or by picking up a paper form at select locations; call 888-890-5554 for details. Total BHEAP enrollment is limited by the funds available, so applying as soon as the benefit year opens on November 1 makes sense.
Black Hills Cares — Emergency Assistance
Black Hills Cares is a charitable emergency fund that can help customers pay their energy bills when other options have been exhausted. These are last-resort funds with limited resources and limited operating periods, so they're not always available. For information on current availability and how to apply, call Black Hills Energy at 888-890-5554 or ask to be connected to a local nonprofit partner.
Energy Outreach Colorado — Year-Round Emergency Help
Energy Outreach Colorado is a nonprofit that runs the most flexible assistance program in the state — it operates year-round, distributes emergency bill payment funds through 78 community organizations across all 64 Colorado counties, and helps people whose income is up to 80% of Area Median Income, which is a broader threshold than LEAP.
If you've been denied LEAP or you need help outside the November-April LEAP season, Energy Outreach Colorado is often the best next call. Reach them at 303-825-8750 or find a local partner at energyoutreach.org (website: https://energyoutreach.org/). They also administer the Crisis Intervention Program for furnace emergencies. See our NHPB guide to Energy Outreach.
PUC Utility Bill Help Program
The Colorado Public Utilities Commission runs a Utility Bill Help program that refers income-qualified customers to utility assistance programs — including BHEAP — when they may not know those programs exist or have been denied LEAP. It covers Black Hills Energy customers and can be a useful starting point if you're not sure where to begin. Apply online at https://puc.colorado.gov/utilitybillhelp or download a paper application in English or Spanish. The program runs during LEAP season, November through June.
Colorado PTC Rebate — Seniors and Disabled Residents
If you're 65 or older, a surviving spouse 58 or older, or you receive disability assistance, Colorado's Property Tax/Rent/Heat (PTC) Credit is worth knowing about. It's administered through the Department of Revenue and can rebate up to $192 of your heating expenses paid during the year, plus additional property tax relief. It's a separate program from LEAP and BHEAP, and the income limits are low — around $11,000 for a single household — but for qualifying seniors on fixed incomes, it's real money that doesn't require a LEAP application. Information and Form 104PTC are available at https://www.colorado.gov/revenueonline/_/.
LEAP and Weatherization
Colorado's LEAP program — the state's version of federal LIHEAP — is the main government resource for Black Hills customers who can't afford their heating bills, and LEAP approval automatically triggers BHEAP enrollment for gas customers. Full details on LEAP, the Crisis Intervention Program, and weatherization are on the Colorado LEAP and Weatherization page.
Watch Out for Urgent Payment Scams
In particular, during LEAP season — November through April — scammers know Colorado households are worried about heating bills and their account balances. A common tactic is a call claiming your Black Hills Energy account has an overdue balance that must be paid immediately to avoid shutoff, with the caller pushing payment by gift card, prepaid debit card, or wire transfer. Black Hills Energy will not call you demanding immediate payment by those methods. If you get a call like that, hang up and call 888-890-5554 directly to check your actual account status.
This page provides general educational information about assistance programs available to Black Hills Energy customers in Colorado. It is not legal or financial advice. Program details, funding availability, and eligibility rules change. Verify current information directly with Black Hills Energy or the relevant assistance organization before acting on anything described here.
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