How to Get Help Paying Your Electric Bill

If you’re struggling with your electric bill, you typically have several options: payment plans with your utility, emergency assistance programs, and longer-term discount programs based on income. You usually apply through your electric company, your state or local social services agency, or a recognized community nonprofit, not through HowToGetAssistance.org. This site is informational only; you must use official channels to apply or make changes to your account.

Programs and rules vary by state, utility company, and even county, so you’ll need to confirm details with your local provider or agency.

Fast Answer: Main Ways to Get Electric Bill Assistance

Most households seeking help with an electric bill usually start with three paths:

  • Contact your utility company directly and ask about:

    • Payment arrangements or extended payment plans
    • Budget billing (averaging payments over the year)
    • Late fee waivers or short-term extensions (where available)

  • Apply for government-supported energy help, such as:

    • LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) for bill payment, crisis help, and sometimes weatherization
    • State or local energy assistance programs, often run by a Department of Social Services or Community Action Agency

  • Use nonprofit and community resources, such as:

    • Local Community Action Agencies
    • Faith-based organizations and community centers
    • United Way / 211 referral lines

Do this next:Call your electric company’s customer service number and ask, “What payment assistance programs or hardship options are available for my account?” Then contact your local LIHEAP office or 211 to check for additional help.

Key Terms You’ll See (Plain-English Definitions)

Understanding a few common terms can make forms and phone calls easier:

  • LIHEAP: A federal program, usually run by your state or tribe, that typically helps with heating and cooling bills and sometimes emergency shut-off prevention.
  • Shut-off / Disconnection notice: A formal warning from your utility that your power may be turned off by a specific date if you do not pay or make arrangements.
  • Payment arrangement / plan: An agreement to pay your past-due balance over multiple installments, plus your current bill.
  • Energy burden: The percentage of your income that goes toward utility costs; some programs target households with a high energy burden.

What You’ll Need Ready Before You Ask for Help

Having documents ready usually speeds up assistance and reduces back-and-forth.

Commonly required information and documents:

  • Recent electric bill (showing your account number and address)
  • Photo ID for the primary account holder (driver’s license, state ID, tribal ID, or similar)
  • Proof of income for everyone in the household (pay stubs, benefit award letters, unemployment statements, SSI/SSDI letters)
  • Household size and ages (who lives in the home and their relationship to you)
  • Proof of address if different from your ID (lease, letter from landlord, or other official mail)
  • Shut-off notice or past-due notice, if you have one

Real-world friction to watch for: A common reason applications get delayed is missing income proof for all adults in the home or using an address on your ID that does not match the service address without an explanation; clarify household members and include any extra proof of residence your local office suggests.

If you are unsure what counts as proof, ask the agency or utility directly: “What documents do you accept if I don’t have pay stubs or a standard lease?”

Your Next Steps: Who to Call and How the Process Typically Works

1. Start With Your Electric Company

  1. Find the customer service or “billing assistance” number on your bill or on your utility’s official website.
  2. Explain your situation clearly, for example: “I’m behind on my bill and received a shut-off notice. What assistance or payment plan options do you have?”
  3. Ask specifically about:
    • Payment plans or extensions
    • Any company-funded hardship or relief program
    • Referral to LIHEAP or local assistance partners
  4. What to expect next: The utility may offer a payment schedule you must agree to (and keep up with), or they may tell you to contact a local agency to see if a third party can make a payment on your behalf.

A simple phone script you can use:
“Hi, I’m calling about my account. I’m having trouble paying in full this month. Can you tell me what assistance programs or payment arrangements might be available to avoid disconnection?”

2. Check Government Energy Assistance (Such as LIHEAP)

Most states and tribes manage LIHEAP and related programs through a state human services department, Department of Social Services, or Community Action Agencies.

  1. Find your local LIHEAP office using the official LIHEAP locator on the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services site by searching for “LIHEAP local office” or going to the LIHEAP “Contact My Local Office” page on acf.hhs.gov.
  2. Review eligibility basics on the site or by phone, such as income limits, household size, and whether you already received help this year.
  3. Ask how to apply: some offices accept online applications, others require in-person or mail / drop-off.
  4. Submit your application with all requested documents.
  5. What to expect next: Approval times vary; in emergency “crisis” cases (like an active shut-off notice), offices often process more quickly, but no timeline is guaranteed. If approved, payment usually goes directly to your utility, not to you.

Quick Summary: Where to Go for Electric Bill Help

  • Call your electric company first to request payment arrangements and ask about hardship programs.
  • Apply for LIHEAP or state energy assistance through your state or tribal human services or Community Action Agency.
  • Use 211 (phone or 211.org) to find local charities and churches that help with emergency utilities.
  • Gather key documents: recent bill, ID, income proof, household details, and any shut-off notice.
  • Watch for scams: never pay a “processing fee” to an unknown service to “guarantee” approval.
  • Follow up with the agency and utility if you submitted forms and haven’t heard back by the timeframe they gave you.

Avoid Mistakes and Scam Warnings

Because electric bill help involves money and identity information, be cautious.

Common snags (and quick fixes):

  • Applications delayed due to missing signatures or incomplete sections → Double-check every page before submitting.
  • People submitting to the wrong office or wrong county → Use your official state or county human services website or call 211 to confirm the correct agency.
  • Confusion over who is the “head of household” → Usually the person whose name is on the lease or utility bill; ask the agency how they define it if you’re unsure.

Scam warning signs:

  • Someone asks for upfront payment (for example, “$50 processing fee”) to “unlock government energy grants.”
  • A caller or text claims to be your utility and says “pay immediately with a gift card or you’ll be disconnected today.”
  • Websites that are not clearly government or recognized nonprofits but promise guaranteed approval or “instant bill wipeout.”

To protect yourself:

  • Pay your bill only through your utility’s official channels (website, phone number on your bill, authorized payment locations).
  • Verify assistance offers by calling your utility or 211 and asking if they recognize the program.
  • When in doubt, use official resources like your state’s public utility commission or consumer advocate office, which you can find by searching your state name plus “public utility commission.”

If This Doesn’t Work: Other Options to Explore

If you’ve contacted your utility and applied for LIHEAP or state programs but still need help, there are additional paths to consider.

Other potential resources:

  • 211 referral line: Dial 2-1-1 or visit the official 211.org site to find local charities, churches, and nonprofits that sometimes provide one-time utility assistance.
  • Community Action Agencies: These often manage multiple programs: LIHEAP intake, emergency aid, weatherization, and budget counseling. They may also know of short-term local funds created after storms, disasters, or economic downturns.
  • Weatherization programs: Some households may qualify for free or low-cost improvements (like insulation or appliance upgrades) to reduce future bills; these are often connected to LIHEAP or your state energy office.
  • Budget and usage changes: Ask your utility whether they offer free energy audits, low-cost efficiency kits, or rate plans that might lower bills over time, especially if you can shift some usage to off-peak hours.

If you are denied for a program, you can ask: “Can you explain the exact reason for the denial and whether there is an appeal or a different program I should look at?” Then check your state or local consumer protection or public utility commission office if you believe your utility is not following its own policies.

To move forward now, call your electric company and 211, then contact your local LIHEAP or energy assistance office through your state or tribal human services website. With those three contacts, most households can at least find out which programs they may qualify for and what steps to take next.