Help paying your electric bill
Last updated 2026-10-21
If you are behind or about to be, act before the disconnection notice date. Utilities have more options before a shutoff than after, and most assistance programs need time to process.
Do these today:
- Call your utility (number on your bill) and ask for a payment arrangement and every assistance program you might qualify for.
- Call 211 or the National Energy Assistance Referral line, 1-866-674-6327, to find LIHEAP and local emergency funds.
- If anyone in the home has a serious illness or uses medical equipment, ask about a medical certificate.
1. LIHEAP (federal energy assistance)
The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program is federally funded and run by states, territories and tribes. It can pay part of heating or cooling bills, provide crisis help to stop a shutoff or restore service, and in some places fund minor repairs.
- Who qualifies: federal rules cap eligibility at the higher of 150% of the federal poverty guideline or 60% of state median income, and states can set lower limits. Households receiving SNAP, SSI or TANF often qualify automatically.
- How to apply: through your local agency (find it via 211, 1-866-674-6327, or your state's LIHEAP page). Some states take online applications.
- What to bring: photo ID, Social Security numbers for household members (requirements vary), income proof for the last 30 days or year, and a recent electric (and heating fuel) bill.
- Timing: heating programs usually open in fall; crisis funds are available year-round in many states while funds last. Funding levels change each year, so apply as early as possible.
- Payment goes to the utility as a credit on your account, in most cases.
Other sources 211 can connect you with: utility-funded hardship funds (often run with the Salvation Army or a local charity), community action agencies, churches, and veterans' or senior programs.
2. Utility payment options
| Option | What it does | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Payment arrangement / deferred payment plan | Spreads a past-due balance over several months on top of current bills | Usually stops a pending shutoff if you keep up. Ask for a length you can afford; many utilities offer 6 to 12 months or more. |
| Due-date extension | Moves this bill's due date | Often available once or twice a year with a phone call |
| Budget / levelized billing | Same payment every month based on your annual average, trued up periodically | Smooths winter and summer spikes. Does not lower the total. Many utilities require the account to be current to enroll. |
| Pick your due date | Moves the due date to after payday | Avoids late fees |
| Arrearage management / forgiveness | Forgives part of the old balance for each on-time payment | Offered by some utilities and states for low-income customers |
| Late fee waiver | Removes a late charge | Ask, especially if your record is otherwise good |
3. Low-income discount rates
Many utilities and states offer ongoing discounts, not just one-time help:
- Percentage discounts on the whole bill or the per-kWh rate.
- Percentage-of-income payment plans, where your bill is capped at a share of household income.
- Waived customer charges or deposits.
- Enrollment is often automatic once you receive LIHEAP or certain benefits, but not always. Ask by name: "Do you have a low-income rate, discount, or customer assistance program?"
Check whether you are on the right rate. Look up your utility and its average price, and see how to read your bill to spot your rate code. In deregulated states, a third-party supplier charging above the utility's default price can raise bills; see deregulation explained.
4. Shutoff protections
- Notice: regulated utilities must send written notice before disconnecting, typically 10 to 15 days ahead. The notice explains your rights and how to dispute.
- Winter rules: many states bar or limit shutoffs for nonpayment during winter months or when temperatures fall below a set level. Some states protect only certain households (elderly, disabled, children, or LIHEAP recipients). Protections usually do not erase the debt.
- Extreme heat: a growing number of states limit shutoffs during heat advisories or above a temperature threshold.
- Medical certificates: a provider-signed form can delay shutoff, commonly for about 30 days and sometimes renewable.
- Medical baseline / life-support programs: some utilities give extra low-priced kWh or priority notification for households using medical equipment. Register even if you can pay; it often also means advance notice before planned outages.
- Disputes: if you formally dispute a bill, most states bar shutoff over the disputed amount while it is reviewed. Pay the part you do not dispute.
- Co-ops and city utilities may follow different rules than investor-owned utilities.
To find your state's exact rules, contact your state public utility commission's consumer line. The LIHEAP Clearinghouse (liheapch.acf.gov) publishes a state-by-state summary of seasonal disconnection policies.
5. Free weatherization
The U.S. Department of Energy's Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) pays for energy upgrades in homes of income-qualified households, generally at or below 200% of the poverty guideline, with priority for elderly residents, people with disabilities and families with children. Renters can qualify with landlord permission.
- Work typically includes an energy audit, air sealing, insulation, and heating or cooling system repair or replacement, and sometimes efficient refrigerators or lighting.
- Apply through the same local agencies that run LIHEAP. Waiting lists are common.
- Many utilities run their own free programs: LED bulbs, smart thermostats, refrigerator recycling and insulation for income-qualified customers.
6. What to say when you call
"I'm calling about account number ___. I can't pay the full balance by the due date. I can pay $___ now. I'd like to set up a payment arrangement I can afford, and I'd like to know about every assistance program, low-income rate and hardship fund you offer. [If applicable:] Someone in my home has a medical condition; please send me the medical certificate form."
- Write down the date, the representative's name and any confirmation number.
- Ask them to confirm in writing or in your online account.
- If they refuse an arrangement you can afford, ask for a supervisor, then contact your state utility commission. Commissions mediate disputes for free.
- Beware of anyone calling or texting to demand immediate payment by gift card, crypto or a payment app to avoid shutoff. That is a scam; utilities do not do this. Hang up and call the number on your bill.
7. Lower the next bill
The average U.S. home pays about $157 a month. Free changes that cut bills right away:
- Thermostat: 68°F in winter, 78°F in summer, lower or higher when away or asleep. See the winter and summer guides.
- Water heater to 120°F; wash clothes in cold water.
- Unplug a second fridge or freezer if it is not needed.
- Heat one room with a space heater only if you turn down the rest of the house.
- Find hidden loads with the home energy audit and standby power tools.
More: how to cut your electric bill and the bill calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How do I apply for LIHEAP?
Call 211 or the National Energy Assistance Referral line at 1-866-674-6327 to find your local LIHEAP office, usually a community action agency or county social services office. You typically need ID, proof of income for the household, and a recent utility bill. Apply early in the season; funds can run out.
Can my utility shut off my power in winter?
Many states restrict disconnections in winter, either for set months or on days below a temperature threshold, and some have similar protections in extreme heat. Rules differ by state and often apply only to regulated utilities. The LIHEAP Clearinghouse keeps a state-by-state list of seasonal disconnection rules; your state utility commission can tell you what applies to you.
What is a medical certificate for electric service?
A form signed by a doctor or other licensed provider saying that a household member has a serious illness or depends on medical equipment. In many states it delays a shutoff for a set period, often 30 days and sometimes renewable. You still owe the bill. Ask the utility for its form.
Will a payment plan hurt my credit?
Utilities generally do not report on-time payment arrangements as negative. Unpaid accounts sent to collections can be reported. Setting up a plan before the account goes to collections is the safer path.