Utility Assistance
Utility Assistance on HumanServices.net
Home Heating
There are many programs to help families and individuals who are having difficulty keeping their homes warm during the winter months. Some of the programs are through government agencies. Some are through private companies. The amount of financial assistance a family or individual can receive is usually based on the total income of the household as compared to some multiple of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.
TurnSealSave.org has suggestions for ways for everyone to reduce their energy use and save money.
Home Heating Utility Assistance Chart summarizes the basic information about home heating assistance programs available locally.
Government Programs
LIHEAP - Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program
LIHEAP has two different programs for families and individuals whose household income is not more than one-and-a-half times (150 percent) the Federal Poverty Guidelines for a household of their size.
LIHEAP Cash helps pay for utility bills during the late autumn and winter months. LIHEAP Cash does not require that the customer have past-due bills.
LIHEAP Crisis helps keep a crisis from happening. If a household is experiencing a heating emergency caused by the utility service to the home being turned off and locked, being without fuel, having broken heating equipment or leaking lines which must be fixed or replaced, LIHEAP Crisis can make a one-time payment to fix the problem.
Non-government Programs
Dollar Energy Fund
Dollar Energy Fund on HumanServices.net
800-683-7036 or 412-431-2800
www.dollarenergy.org
The Dollar Energy Fund is a non-profit program that helps consumers in two ways.
Directly
Dollar Energy Hardship Program helps pay heating bills for individuals and families whose household incomes do not exceed 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.
Indirectly
Dollar Energy Fund also assists consumers sign up for various utility company programs to get help paying their utility bills. These Customer Assistance Programs benefit individuals and families whose household incomes do not exceed 150 percent of Federal Poverty Guidelines.
Utility Companies also assist customers directly.
Natural Gas
Columbia Gas 1-800-272-2714
www.columbiagaspa.com/en/your-home/NeedHelp.aspx
Dominion People’s Gas 1-800-400-9276
www.dom.com/dominion-peoples/customer-service/your-bill/energy-assistance-programs.jsp
Equitable Gas 1-800-644-8090 www.equitablegas.com/payment/specialProgs/default.aspx?state=pa&f=res
TW Phillips 1-866-276-4055 www.twphillips.com/customer/SpecialPrograms.aspx?type=Payment
Electric
Allegheny Power
www.alleghenypower.com/CSC/Payment/PaymentOptions.asp
Duquesne Light www.duquesnelight.com/CustomerServices/Bills%26Payments/PayingMyBill/UniversalServices/
Water
PA American Water Company
www.amwater.com/files/PA_H20%20Help%20to%20others%20-%20October.pdf