Utility bill forgiveness programs
Utility bill forgiveness generally refers to assistance programs designed to provide relief to customers who are unable to pay their bills due to a financial hardship or crisis. A number of gas, electric and power companies offer these programs to qualified low-income or struggling families. Find details on utility bill forgiveness programs below and how to enter into one, including in your local area or state.
In general, one or more bills will forgiven to low-income families, seniors, the disabled or those people in a crisis. In general, a program will be offered for people who are faced with temporary financial hardships, like those experienced due to a natural disaster or serious medical condition, or they can be ongoing, such as those experienced by low-income households who have lost their only source of income but are on track to pay future utility bills.
How to get utility bills forgiven
Find your utility company and state below for details on local utility bill forgiveness plans. These programs are offered by many energy providers (not all) and only for those in an emergency, financial hardship.
There will of course be income and/or asset criteria that applicants need to meet to get an utility bill(s) forgiven. Other criteria will often be in place too. However general terms and conditions for utility bill forgiveness programs include some or all of the following.
Eligibility: In most cases, the utility customer must meet certain eligibility requirements to qualify for utility bill forgiveness. These might include income level, family size, or specific hardship circumstances (like being impacted by a natural disaster). Some programs are specifically for seniors, people with disabilities, or families with young children.
Application to have energy bills forgiven: This may cover light, gas, electric or other types of utility service. The customer usually needs to apply for the utility bill forgiveness program. This might involve filling out forms and providing documentation to the state and/or company prove eligibility.
Assessment: The utility company or managing authority will review the application to determine whether the customer qualifies for assistance. The review process will often take days if not weeks. They might also determine how much assistance the customer is eligible to receive. In addition, there may be other requirements, such as enrollment into budgeting workshops, take energy conservation steps and more.
Payment or credit: If approved, the utility company might apply a credit to the customer's account, or make a payment on behalf of the customer. Each energy provider will offer their own form of help. In some cases, the debt might be entirely forgiven.
Renewal or reapplication for future utility bill forgiveness: In general, this is one time assistance. Most utility forgiveness programs are not permanent. The customer may need to reapply after a certain period of time, or whenever they need assistance again.
Whether utility bill forgiveness is offered depends on the specific utility company and the jurisdiction (state and/or county) in which it operates. Many utility companies offer some sort of assistance for customers in need, particularly in times of crisis. Whether a payment plan, forgiveness, or something else, there is often help provided. In some cases, these programs are mandated by the government or regulatory authorities.
There are also government assistance programs designed to assist low-income households. These include grant money from the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which often focuses on winter heating costs or summer electric bills. Learn more on LIHEAP energy assistance in your state.
Company utility bill forgiveness information near you
In certain cases, utility forgiveness programs can include debt relief, subsidies, or payment plans that reduce or eliminate outstanding utility bills for eligible participants. Select your utility provider below, whether it is for light, heat, gas or something else.
These programs are often designed to assist low-income individuals or those facing temporary financial difficulties. However, it's important to note that specific programs and policies may vary depending on the country, state, or utility company. If you're interested in a utility bill forgiveness program, you should reach out a company below.
Alabama
Alabama Power
Alagasco
Decatur Utilities.
Arizona
APS.
Electrical District No. 3.
Glendale Water and Power.
Salt River Project.
Southwest Gas
Tucson Electric utility assistance.
Unisource
Arkansas
Arkansas Energy Network.
Black Hills Energy Source Gas.
CenterPoint Arkansas Energy
Entergy Arkansas assistance programs.
Liberty Utilities - Empire District Electric
Southwester Electric Power.
California
Anaheim Utilities.
PGE - Pacific Gas and Electric.
Pacific Power assistance.
Pasadena Water and Power.
Redding Electric
Riverside Public Utilities
Sacramento Municipal Utility District.
San Diego Gas and Electric.
SCE - Southern California Edison
Southern California Gas.
Southwest Gas California
Colorado
Black Hills Colorado
Black Hills Energy - Source Gas
Xcel in Colorado.
Yampa Valley Electric
Connecticut
Connecticut Natural Gas
Eversource.
Southern Connecticut Gas.
United Illuminating Company
Yankee Gas
Florida
Clay County.
Duke - Progress Energy.
FPL - Florida Power and Light.
Florida Public Utilities.
Gulf Power
JEA.
Peoples Gas
Tampa Electric
Georgia
Atlanta Gas Light.
Gas South.
Georgia Natural Gas.
Georgia Power.
SCANA.
Idaho
Idaho Power
Illinois
Ameren Illinois
City, Light, Power and Water
ComEd.
Mid-American Energy Company.
Nicor Gas.
Northshore Gas
Indiana
Citizens Gas.
Duke energy.
Indiana Michigan Power
IAES Indiana (formerly IP&L)
NIPSCO assistance programs.
Vectren Indiana
Iowa
Alliant Energy
Black Hills Energy
MidAmerican Energy.
Kansas
Black Hills Energy.
KCP&L Kansas City Power and Light
Kansas Gas
Pioneer Electric.
Westar Energy
Kentucky
Duke Energy
Kentucky Power.
Kentucky Utility.
LG&E - Louisville Gas and Electric.
Louisiana
CenterPoint Energy.
CLECO assistance programs.
Entergy Louisiana
SWEPCO
Maine
Central Maine Power.
Unitil assistance programs.
Versant Power
Maryland
BGE - Baltimore Gas and Electric
Chesapeake Utilities Maryland
Columbia Gas Maryland
Delmarva Power
Potomac Edison
Washington Gas.
Massachusetts
Berkshire gas
Columbia Gas Massachusetts
Eversource
National Grid
Unitil
WEMCo
Michigan
Consumers Energy Michigan.
DTE Energy assistance programs.
Indiana Michigan utility
Michigan Gas Utilities utility
Semco
Minnesota
CenterPoint in Minnesota
Minnesota Energy Resource assistance.
Xcel Energy Minnesota
Mississippi
Centerpoint Energy.
Mississippi Entergy.
Mississippi Power.
Missouri
Ameren in Missouri.
Empire District Electric.
Independence Power & Light.
Evergy (formerly Kansas City Power Light)
Sprire Missouri
Nebraska
Black Hills Energy
MidAmerican Energy
Omaha Public Power District
Nevada
Nevada Energy
Southwest Gas.
New Hampshire
Eversource in NH.
Unitil
New Jersey
AmeriGas
Atlantic City Electric.
New Jersey Central Power and Light.
New Jersey Natural Gas.
PSE&G.
New Mexico
El Paso Electric.
New Mexico Gas.
PNM
New York
AmeriGas financial assistance.
Central Hudson.
Consolidated Edison
Long Island Power.
National Fuel assistance programs.
New York National Grid
NYSEG assistance programs.
RG&E
North Carolina
Dominion North Carolina Power.
Duke Energy
Piedmont Natural Gas assistance programs.
Ohio
AEP.
Columbia Gas Ohio
AES Ohio (formerly Dayton Power)
Dominion Energy Ohio
Duke Energy.
Illuminating Company
Ohio Edison.
Ohio Gas.
Suburban Natural and Ohio Gas.
Toledo Edison.
Vectren Gas Ohio
Oklahoma
CenterPoint Energy Oklahoma.
Oklahoma Gas and Electric assistance.
Oklahoma Natural Gas
Public Service Company in Oklahoma.
Oregon
Avista
Cascade Natural Gas.
Eugene Water and Electric Board
Idaho Power assistance programs for customers in Oregon.
Northwest Natural Gas.
Pacific Power.
PGE
Pennsylvania
Columbia Gas assistance programs.
Duquesne Light
National Fuel.
Pennsylvania Electric
Penn Power.
PPL electric assistance programs.
PECO
Peoples Natural Gas.
Philadelphia Gas Works
UGI Utilities.
Rhode Island
Rhode Island.
South Carolina
Dominion (formerly SCE&G South Carolina Electric & Gas Company)
Duke Energy.
Piedmont Natural Gas
Santee Cooper Power.
Tennessee
Atmos.
Knoxville Utilities
MLGW - Memphis Light Gas and Water.
Nashville Electric Service programs.
Texas
AEP Texas
Atmos Energy.
Austin Energy
CenterPoint Energy Texas
CPS
El Paso Electric
Entergy.
Reliant
Southwestern Electric Power.
TXU Energy
Monarch Utilities and Southwest Water.
WTU Direct
Utah
Dominion Energy UT
Rocky Mountain Power.
Virginia
Appalachian Power Virginia
Virginia Columbia Gas.
Dominion Power
Northern Virginia Electric.
Virgina Natural Gas assistance programs.
Washington Gas
Washington
Avista.
Cascade Natural Gas.
Northwest Natural Gas
Pacific Power
Seattle City Light.
Snohomish County PUD.
Tacoma Public Utilities
West Virginia
Appalachian Power..
Hope Gas WV
Mon Power
Wisconsin
Alliant Energy.
Madison Gas and Electric
We Energies
Wisconsin Public Services
Xcel.
Conclusion
When struggling customer, or someone in a financial hardship, is unable to pay their utility bills due to crisis, they may face disconnection or other consequences. However, some utility companies or government programs may offer assistance or forgiveness options to help individuals or low-income families struggling with these payments.
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