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I got a shutoff noticeGot a utility shutoff notice? How to keep your power and heat onKeep your power and heat on.I need help paying energy billsBehind on utility bills? Payment plans, discount rates and hardship fundsPayment plans, discount rates and hardship funds from your utility.Someone at home is seriously illHow a medical certificate can stop your power or gas being shut offMedical certificates delay shutoffs.I owe a large balanceBehind on utility bills? Payment plans, discount rates and hardship fundsPayment plans, discounts and hardship funds.My home is drafty and bills are highFree home weatherization: insulation, repairs and lower energy billsFree insulation and repairs.I need a cheaper phone or internetHow to get a Lifeline phone or internet discountLifeline and low-cost internet plans.I cannot pay my water billCan't pay your water bill? Where to get help and stop a water shutoffLocal water assistance and payment plans.
Step-by-step guides in this topic
Each guide answers one specific question in depth.
Got a utility shutoff notice? How to keep your power and heat onIf you get a utility shutoff notice, call your utility before the shutoff date and ask for a payment arrangement and its hardship fund; call 211…Read the guide →Free home weatherization: insulation, repairs and lower energy billsThe Weatherization Assistance Program provides free energy-efficiency improvements - insulation, air sealing, heating system repair or…Read the guide →How to get a Lifeline phone or internet discountLifeline gives one monthly discount per household on phone or internet service from a participating provider. You qualify if your income is below…Read the guide →Behind on utility bills? Payment plans, discount rates and hardship fundsCall your utility's customer service line and ask for four things: a deferred payment arrangement for your past-due balance, the company's…Read the guide →How a medical certificate can stop your power or gas being shut offIn most states, if a licensed medical provider certifies that disconnecting electricity or gas would seriously harm the health of someone living…Read the guide →Low-cost internet for low-income families after ACP endedFor low-cost internet, check whether your internet provider runs a low-income plan for households on Medicaid, SSI, public housing or similar…Read the guide →Can't pay your water bill? Where to get help and stop a water shutoffIf you cannot pay your water bill, call your water utility and ask for a payment plan, any low-income or senior discount, and its customer…Read the guide →
Programmes we point you to
Every one of these is free to apply for, and you apply directly. We are not affiliated with any of them and earn nothing from them.
Weatherization Assistance Program
What it isFree work on your home - insulation, air sealing, heating system repairs - that permanently lowers the bill rather than paying it once.
Who it is forIncome-eligible households, including renters with the owner's permission.
How to applyThrough your state weatherization office. Receiving SSI or TANF often makes you automatically eligible.
Lifeline - phone and internet
What it isA monthly discount on phone or internet service from participating providers.
Who it is forHouseholds below the income threshold, or anyone on Medicaid, SSI, Federal Public Housing Assistance, Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit, or certain Tribal programmes.
How to applyApply through the National Verifier, then choose a participating provider.
Utility hardship funds and payment plans
What it isMost utilities run their own assistance fund, and most states require them to offer a payment arrangement before disconnecting.
Who it is forCustomers who ask. These are rarely advertised on the bill.
How to applyCall the number on your bill and ask specifically for the hardship fund and a deferred payment agreement.
What to have ready
- Your most recent utility bill, and the shutoff notice if you have one
- Photo ID and Social Security numbers for the household
- Proof of income for the last month or two
- Proof of address - a lease or another bill in your name
- A doctor's letter, if anyone in the home has a medical condition affected by losing power
Missing something on this list is rarely a reason not to start. Most offices will open a case and let you bring the rest afterwards — but the application date is what counts, so start now.
What people miss
The parts that are true, rarely explained, and change the outcome.
A medical certificate can stop a shutoff
In most states, a letter from a doctor saying someone in the home depends on power for a medical reason postpones disconnection, often for 30 to 60 days. Ask your utility what form they need.
A hardship fund is not a payment plan
Many utilities run a hardship fund that is separate from their regular payment plans and discount rates. People who were told they did not qualify for a payment plan often do not know to ask about the hardship fund as well.
Weatherization pays off longer than a grant
A bill payment helps this month. Insulation and a repaired furnace lower every bill after it, and the work is free if you qualify.
Winter and summer protections have dates
Many states ban disconnection during cold or hot months. The protection usually ends on a fixed date - and a large balance comes due right after it, which is the moment to have a plan already agreed.
Ask for the arrangement before you fall behind
Utilities have far more flexibility with a customer who calls early. The same request after disconnection becomes a reconnection deposit.
The utility itself is often the biggest source of help
Payment arrangements, discount rates, percentage-of-income plans and hardship funds are run by utility companies and rarely advertised on the bill. Calling and asking for each by name frequently does more than any single grant.
Common questions
My power is already off. Is it too late?
No. Utility hardship funds and payment arrangements can both deal with reconnection. Call your utility and 211 the same day - reconnection fees and deposits are sometimes waived through these programmes, and your state public utility commission can explain your rights.
What happened to the Affordable Connectivity Program?
ACP stopped funding new benefits in 2024. Lifeline is the remaining federal discount on phone and internet service, and some providers run their own low-cost plans separately.
I rent. Can I still get weatherization?
Usually yes, with the owner's consent. The work improves their property, so many landlords agree once it is explained.
How can I get help with my electric bill?
Call your utility to ask for a payment arrangement, its low-income discount rate, any percentage-of-income plan and its hardship fund, and call 211 for local charities and your community action agency. If you have a shutoff notice, ask about medical certificates and seasonal protections, and contact your state public utility commission if the utility will not work with you.
Can they shut off my power if I have a medical condition?
In most states, a medical certificate from a licensed provider stating that losing service would endanger a resident's health postpones disconnection for a set period. Ask your utility for the form and register any powered medical equipment.
Is there still help with internet bills after ACP ended?
Yes - Lifeline still discounts phone or internet service, many providers run their own low-income plans for households on Medicaid, SSI or public housing assistance, and libraries and schools lend free hotspots.
Can renters get help with utilities?
Yes. Renters with utilities in their name can get payment arrangements, hardship funds and utility discounts, and community action agencies sometimes help renters whose heat is included in rent. Renters can get weatherization with landlord permission.
What if I heat with oil or propane?
Many oil and propane dealers offer budget plans that spread the cost across the year. Ask your dealer for a payment plan if your tank is low, and call 211 or your community action agency for local charity help. Shutoff protections for regulated utilities usually do not apply to delivered fuel, so plan early.
How can I lower my energy bills permanently?
Apply for the Weatherization Assistance Program, which provides free insulation, air sealing and heating repairs for eligible households, and ask your utility about free energy audits and efficiency rebates.
Who do I complain to if my utility will not help?
Your state public utility commission handles complaints about regulated electric and gas utilities. Municipal utilities and cooperatives have their own complaint processes.
How long do utility help applications take?
It depends on the programme. A payment arrangement with your utility can often be agreed in a single call, while hardship funds and Weatherization can take several weeks in busy periods. If you have a shutoff notice, say so straight away - many utilities and community action agencies fast-track requests when a disconnection date is close.
Can I get a free phone?
Wireless Lifeline providers offer basic plans covered by the Lifeline discount, often with a free or low-cost phone, to people who qualify through income or programmes such as Medicaid, SSI or Federal Public Housing Assistance.
Can a utility shut off service on a Friday?
Many states prohibit residential disconnections on weekends, holidays or the day before them, and during extreme heat or cold. Rules vary, so check your state utility commission's consumer protections.
Can I get help paying a water bill?
There is no permanent federal water programme now, but many water utilities offer payment plans, discounts and assistance funds, and charities may help. Ask for a leak adjustment if a leak caused a high bill.
Can I get help with an air conditioner?
Some community action agencies and charities provide fans or air conditioners to medically vulnerable households in hot climates, and many utilities offer summer payment plans or medical certificates to prevent shutoffs. Call 211 to ask what is available locally.
Can my landlord shut off my utilities?
In almost every state, a landlord cannot shut off utilities to force you out - this is an illegal eviction. If utilities are in the landlord's name and unpaid, tenants often have protections. Contact your utility commission and legal aid.
Related topics
Programme rules, income limits and deadlines change every year and differ
by state and county. We have deliberately left exact figures off this page so
it cannot go stale — follow the official links above for current numbers,
or call us and we will talk it through.