Utility bill forgiveness programs can get a utility bill waived

Utility bill forgiveness programs by state and company.

Utility Bill Payment Help

Utility bill forgiveness generally refers to assistance programs designed to provide relief to customers who are unable to pay their bills due to a financial hardship or crisis. In many cases the utility provider will just completely waive the balance due - so the customer owes no money. A number of gas, electric and power companies offer these programs to qualified low-income or struggling families.

Find details on utility bill forgiveness programs below and how to enter into one, including in your local area or state. In general, one or more bills will forgiven. This is only for very low-income families facing an unexpected hardship seniors, the disabled or maybe someone with a medical illness.

In general, a program will be offered for people who are faced with temporary financial hardships, like those experienced due to a natural disaster or serious medical condition, or they can be ongoing, such as those experienced by low-income households who have lost their only source of income but are on track to pay future utility bills.

What exactly is utility bill forgiveness?: Utility bill forgiveness refers to a situation in which a utility company agrees to waive all or part of a customer’s unpaid balance . If a customer owes a certain amount of money or is past one or months due, the utility provider will not pursue collections, prevent the shut off power , and will in effect say no money is due.

Unlike a deferred payment or payment plan, forgiveness means the debt is canceled and no longer owed. This is rare, and typically conditional, but it does happen. Sometimes it's driven by internal company policy, while in other cases, it’s mandated by a state or local government, especially during times of crisis.

When and why forgiveness of past due bills is offered: Utility bill forgiveness is not an everyday offering. There are limits and proof needed too. It’s often tied to specific situations and approved on a case by case basis. Declared emergencies: After natural disasters or extreme weather (like heatwaves, extreme cold weather or polar vortexes), some states require or pressure utilities to forgive balances for affected residents.

Military deployment: In some states, utility companies are required to waive past-due balances for active-duty National Guard or military personnel called into service. Income-qualifying hardship programs: Some utilities, even water companies, offer hardship programs where long-term customers who meet income guidelines and have exhausted other government benefits or charity assistance programs may qualify for partial or full forgiveness.

But proof of denial from those government programs, churches, charities will be needed. State rules may require waiving utility bills: Some state laws and regulations may require utilities to offer forgiveness in specific situations (in addition to this list). Maybe a single mom is not getting child support, or an elderly person is facing life-threatening conditions without heat or AC, etc.

Examples like that may cause past due bills to be forgiven. Severe medical or life-threatening

Programs for Seniors and Elderly

conditions: A few utility companies will forgive bills in special cases where disconnection would jeopardize someone’s health. This may be a senior or disabled person who relies on a CPAP machine or someone in-home care. Waiving bills is an option when other assistance options are not available.

Of course other local and regional rules may apply. And many utility companies have their own internal policies on when to waive the past due balance due. That is why people need to look into their options. How to get utility bills forgiven: Find your utility company and state below for details on how to get relief from local utility bill forgiveness plans.

There will of course be income and/or asset criteria that applicants need to meet to get an utility bill(s) forgiven. Other criteria will often be in place too as a utility company will not just waive the amount due for everyone, as utility companies also have to be mindful of their bottom line.. However general terms and conditions for utility bill forgiveness programs include some or all of the following.

Eligibility: In most cases, the utility customer must meet certain eligibility requirements to qualify for utility bill forgiveness. These might include income level, family size, or specific hardship circumstances (like being impacted by a natural disaster or a serious medical condition). Some programs are specifically for seniors, people with disabilities, or families with young children.

Application to have energy bills forgiven: This may cover light, gas, electric or other types of utility service. The customer usually needs to apply for the utility bill forgiveness program with each company.

This might involve filling out forms and providing documentation to the state and/or company prove eligibility. Assessment: The utility company or managing authority will review the application to det ermine whether the customer qualify for having their bill zeroed out. The review process will often take days if not weeks.

They might also determine how much assistance the customer is eligible to receive as sometimes the customer may still need to pay a balance due. In addition, there may be other requirements, such as enrollment into budgeting workshops, take energy conservation steps and more. Payment or credit: If approved, the utility company might apply a credit to the customer's account, or make a payment on behalf of the customer.

Each energy provider will offer their own form of help. In some cases, the debt might be entirely waived but future utility bills may still be due. Renewal or reapplication for future utility bill forgiveness:

Utility Bill Payment Help

In general, this is one time assistance. Most utility forgiveness programs are not permanent. The customer may need to reapply after a certain period of time, or whenever they need assistance again.

Whether utility bill forgiveness is offered depends on the specific utility company and the jurisdiction (state and/or county) in which it operates. Whether a payment plan, forgiveness, or something else, there is often help provided.

In some cases, these programs are mandated by the government or regulatory authorities, in particular during extreme weather events like summer heat or a very cold spell. There are also government assistance programs designed to assist low-income households.

These include grant money from the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which often focuses on winter heating costs or summer electric bills. Learn more on LIHEAP energy assistance in your state Company utility bill forgiveness information for each state and provider: In certain cases, utility forgiveness programs can include debt relief, subsidies, or payment plans that reduce or eliminate outstanding utility bills for eligible participants.

Select your utility provider below , whether it is for light, heat, gas or something else. Also, in addition to below, review your state utility commission rues. As some states require utilities to offer forgiveness in specific situations with the information by state here. https://www.naruc.org/about-naruc/our-mission/regulatory-commissions.

It's important to note that specific programs and policies may vary depending on the country, state, or utility company. If you're interested in a utility bill forgiveness program, you should reach out a company below.

Alabama: Alabama Power Alagasco: Decatur Utilities Arizona APS Electrical District No. 3 Glendale Water and Power Salt River Project Southwest Gas:

Utility Bill Payment Help

Tucson Electric utility assistance Unisource Arkansas: Arkansas Energy Network Black Hills Energy Source Gas CenterPoint Arkansas Energy: Entergy Arkansas assistance programs Liberty Utilities - Empire District Electric: Southwester Electric Power California: Anaheim Utilities PGE - Pacific Gas and Electric Pacific Power assistance Pasadena Water and Power Redding Electric: Riverside Public Utilities: Sacramento Municipal Utility District San Diego Gas and Electric SCE - Southern California Edison: Southern California Gas Southwest Gas California Colorado: Black Hills Colorado: Black Hills Energy - Source Gas: Xcel in Colorado Yampa Valley Electric: Connecticut: Connecticut Natural Gas Eversource Southern Connecticut Gas United Illuminating Company Yankee Gas Florida: Clay County Duke - Progress Energy FPL - Florida Power and Light Florida Public Utilities Gulf Power JEA Peoples Gas: Tampa Electric Georgia: Atlanta Gas Light Gas South Georgia Natural Gas Georgia Power SCANA Idaho: Idaho Power Illinois: Ameren Illinois: City, Light, Power and Water ComEd Mid-American Energy Company Nicor Gas Northshore Gas Indiana: Citizens Gas Duke energy Indiana Michigan Power: IAES Indiana (formerly IP&L): NIPSCO assistance programs Vectren Indiana Iowa: Alliant Energy: Black Hills Energy: MidAmerican Energy Kansas: Black Hills Energy KCP&L Kansas City Power and Light Kansas Gas: Pioneer Electric Westar Energy Kentucky: Duke Energy: Kentucky Power Kentucky Utility LG&E - Louisville Gas and Electric Louisiana: CenterPoint Energy CLECO assistance programs Entergy Louisiana SWEPCO Maine: Central Maine Power Unitil assistance programs Versant Power Maryland: BGE - Baltimore Gas and Electric: Chesapeake Utilities Maryland: Columbia Gas Maryland: Delmarva Power: Potomac Edison: Washington Gas Massachusetts: Berkshire gas: Columbia Gas Massachusetts Eversource: National Grid Unitil WEMCo Michigan Consumers