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Energy Assistance Programs

Keep Warm Washington

If you are facing unmanageable energy bills, here are some options that will help keep your service turned on.

Company Programs

Select your company below to see what payment assistance options they offer.

Avista

To help customers manage their energy use, Avista offers services to those who qualify for assistance in managing their energy bills, such as:

  • Comfort level billing,

  • Payment arrangements, and

  • Special circumstantial referrals to area agencies and churches for help with housing, utilities, medical assistance and other needs.

Avista also provides funding for energy assistance programs which are administered through community action agencies.

Energy efficiency and outreach programs are offered, including rebates and incentives, tips and resources to help customers manage their energy use and bills.

Learn more at www.myavista.com.

Cascade Natural Gas

Cascade offers short- and long-term payment arrangement plans and Weatherization Assistance Programs. The following bill payment assistance grant programs are currently available for Washington residential customers through the company’s partners at Community Action.

  • LIHEAP: Grants up to $1,000 that can be used for past due balances, future bills, or to reconnect service for households with income up to 150% of the Federal Poverty Level.  This is a federal program provided through the Washington Department of Commerce.

  • Washington Energy Assistance Fund: Grants up to $500 that can be used for past due balances, future bills, or to reconnect service for households with income up to 200% of the Federal Poverty Level.

  • Winter Help: Grants between $50 - $200 that can be used for past due balances, future bills, or to reconnect service for households with income up to 200% of the Federal Poverty Level.

CNG also works with other organizations that may provide bill payment assistance. Assistance programs are available year-round and there is no charge for customers to apply.

Washington residents can also dial 2-1-1 to request contact information for local agencies that can help with energy assistance options.

Learn more at www.cngc.com.

Northwest Natural Gas

NW Natural assists customers to ease their energy burden through its low-income assistance programs:

  • GREAT (Gas Residential Energy Assistance Tariff): Bill assistance program

  • WA-LIEE (Washington Low-Income Energy Efficiency program): Home weatherization program

  • GAP (Gas Assistance Program): Supplemental low-income assistance program

These programs complement and are in addition to federal funding available through the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). NW Natural works with local community action agencies to distribute these funds to income-qualified customers to alleviate their energy burden.

The company also offers several payment plans to assist customers with managing their monthly expenses. Equal Pay is an option that smooths out customer bills over 12 months to make their bills more predictable.

The company’s Level Pay and Current Bill Plus payment plans help provide more time and more manageable payments for those customers with existing balances.

Customers can enroll in these payment plans and learn about other payment and assistance options by calling NW Natural’s customer service call center at 800-422-4012.

Learn more at www.nwnatural.com.

Pacific Power

Pacific Power offers assistance programs to Washington residents.

  • Low Income Bill Assistance program (LIBA): Provides a bill discount to income eligible households year-round. The program is administered through the LIHEAP agencies. 

  • State energy assistance: The federally funded Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps low income households with energy costs. It is administrated by the Washington Department of Commerce through local agencies.

  • Tenants and landlords: Resources are available from the federal Emergency Rental Assistance Program to help renters unable to pay utilities and rent due to circumstances related to COVID-19. Funds are available for a limited time.

  • Weatherization services: Local agencies provide free weatherization services to income-qualifying homeowners and renters living in single-family homes, mobile homes or apartments. 

  • Project HELP: A nonprofit program providing energy assistance with donated funds.

Learn more at www.pacificpower.net

Puget Sound Energy

  • PSE Home Energy Lifeline Program (HELP): PSE provides qualified customers with bill-payment assistance beyond the Washington state LIHEAP program. You do not need to owe a balance on your PSE bill to apply.

  • LIHEAP program: This government program provides financial assistance so eligible households can maintain affordable, dependable utility services and avoid disconnection. Your local community action agency can help you with eligibility requirements and your application.

  • The Salvation Army Warm Home Fund: Administered by the Salvation Army and funded by voluntary contributions from PSE customers, employees, and investors. The Warm Home Fund provides short-term, emergency bill payment assistance to PSE customers facing financial difficulties. Contact your local community action agency to learn more.

  • Payment arrangements: If you don’t qualify for bill assistance, you still have options. By creating a payment plan, you don’t have to pay your outstanding bill all at once. PSE will work with you to produce a manageable payment schedule with a realistic timeline of up to 18 months.

  • Home Weatherization Assistance: This program provides free upgrades for single-family homes, manufactured homes, or eligible apartment buildings. Upgrades can include insulation, duct sealing, and much more.

  • Efficiency Boost: This PSE program offers increased rebates for equipment upgrades such as space heaters, water heaters, and more.

Learn more at www.PSE.com.

For company contact information, click here.

Payment Arrangements

Call your company directly to make payment arrangements. The company can disconnect service if you fail to make those payments, so make sure you are able to pay on time. To avoid confusion, ask the company to send a confirmation letter with the agreed upon payment schedule.

Budget Billing

Pay the same amount every month with budget or comfort billing programs. The company averages the cost of the energy used during the past 12 months and gives you a set payment for the upcoming year. This avoids high bills in the winter and low bills in the summer, and allows you to accurately budget for your monthly energy bill. The payment plan will automatically be adjusted at the end of the twelve-month budget period to charge only for the energy used. Budget Billing is available anytime of the year with no income limits. Call your company for more information. For company contact information, click here.

Payment Assistance

Funding is available to help low-income customers pay heating bills during the winter. You may have to meet certain income or age eligibility standards to receive assistance.

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) provides direct heating bill assistance using federal grants and eligibility standards.

For more energy assistance resources in your area, dial 2-1-1 from any phone.

Medical Emergency

The commission's rules require regulated utilities to either restore service or suspend disconnect actions for five business days if there is a medical emergency in the household. The utility must postpone disconnection for a grace period of five business days to allow you time to submit a medical emergency certificate from their doctor, pay a minimum of 10 percent of the delinquent balance, and make payment arrangements on the balance due. Contact your utility to let the company know there is a medical condition in the household.  If you need help, contact the commission.

Moratorium 

This emergency option allows low-income individuals who have used up all other options to keep their heat on - from Nov. 15 through March 15 of each year - making payments of seven percent of their household's monthly income. Before March 15, you must make arrangements on the winter bill, and pay the entire balance by Oct. 15. If the payment arrangements under this program are not kept, the company can disconnect your electricity and refuse to reconnect until the entire balance owed is paid. Read the Winter Low-Income Payment Program Law or call the commission for more information.

Need Help? Call the Commission!

Commission staff are always ready to answer your questions about regulated energy companies. If you have a problem, try to resolve your complaint with the company first, ask to speak to a supervisor if necessary.

If you have an unresolved dispute with your energy company, or have received a disconnect notice, contact the commission! We will work with the company to help resolve your dispute or assist in making payment arrangements.

Consumer Help Line