CAP programs offer lower monthly bills for low income utility customers. If you consistently make full payments on your CAP bill, your previous utility debt can be frozen and forgiveness can be earned over time.

Eligibility and program terms vary by company. Typically, you must have income at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL).

Contact your utility company to see if you are eligible for their Customer Assistance Program (CAP).

Hardship funds offer a cash grant (typically up to $500) to resolve a crisis that is preventing a low income utility customer from paying their utility bill.

Eligibility and program terms vary by company. Typically, you must have income at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), have made consistent recent bill payments, and are experiencing a temporary hardship. Note that some utility companies do not allow CAP customers to receive hardship fund grant assistance, but may make exceptions if asked.

Contact your utility company to see if you are eligible for their hardship fund.

LIURP is a program offered by utility companies to their low income customers with high energy usage. It offers a free home energy audit to identify cost-effective ways to reduce energy usage. Additional free energy efficiency and usage reduction measures which may be offered include:

• New appliances / appliance recycling

• Insulation / pipe wrapping / weatherproofing

• Lightbulbs / power strips / automatic switches

• Incidental health and safety repairs

• Some programs also offer emergency furnace repair / replacement services.

Eligibility and program terms vary by company. Typically, you must have income at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), high energy usage, and landlord permission (if you are a renter).

Contact your utility company to see if you are eligible for their LIURP program.

CARES programs are special referral services for customers with temporary hardships. CARES programs recognize that people sometimes experience situations that are beyond their control (illness, job loss, etc.) and aims to connect customers with the resources they need.

LIHEAP is a program to help low income families afford their heating bills. It offers a Cash Grant and / or a Crisis Grant. To be eligible for either grant, you must have an annual income at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), a Pennsylvania resident, and responsible for paying primary or supplemental heat.* In order to qualify for the Crisis Grant, you must also have a home heating emergency (at risk of termination, already off, or 15 days or less of fuel remaining). Crisis Grants can also be used toward a secondary heating source* and must resolve the crisis.

LIHEAP also offers an Emergency Heating System Repair program, which provides emergency furnace repair or replacement, and other weatherization and energy efficiency measures to help reduce energy usage and improve home safety and comfort. To qualify for the Emergency Heating System Repair program, you must have an annual income at or below 150% FPL, be a Pennsylvania resident, and be responsible for paying for the primary heating source. Renters are eligible for this program with landlord permission.

*Is your heating responsibility Primary, Secondary, or Supplemental?

• Primary heat is the type of energy used most by the applicant.

• Secondary heat is the type of energy used to operate the primary heat source. For example, when a secondary utility is necessary to operate the primary heating system, such as needing electricity to operate a gas furnace.

• Supplemental heat is the type of heat you use when the main source of heat is inadequate. For example, if you rely on electric space heaters because your gas furnace doesn’t work, then electricity is your supplemental heating source.

Click here to learn more and apply for LIHEAP.

The Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) helps low income families to lower their energy bills by making their homes more energy efficient.

Some of the services you may receive through WAP may include, but are not limited to:

• An energy audit - an assessment of your home's energy use carried out by a professional energy auditor and includes an analysis of your energy bills, a blower-door (pressurized) test to determine the infiltration of outside air into your house, and an inspection of all energy equipment for potentially health and safety issues.

• New appliances / appliance recycling

• Insulation / pipe wrapping / weatherproofing

• Lightbulbs / power strips / automatic switches

To be eligible for WAP assistance, your annual income must be at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Limit (FPL), be a Pennsylvania resident, and have landlord permission (if you are a renter). Higher risk residents are prioritized for WAP services, including those who are elderly, individuals with disabilities, families with children, and high energy users. Note that there is a long waiting list in some counties, as these services are in high demand.

To learn more about WAP and apply, click here.

Lifeline is a program dedicated to making phone and internet service more affordable for low income households. In order to qualify for Lifeline, you must have an annual income at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Limit (FPL) or be a recipient of one of the following programs: SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, Public Housing, or Veteran Pension/Survivor Benefits.

If you are eligible for Lifeline, you will receive $9.25 per month towards your telephone, broadband, or bundled service (note: this discount cannot be used to pay for equipment, but some providers offer a free phone to Lifeline recipients). One discount is available per household and can be carried over to other providers.

For more information about Lifeline or to apply, click here.

The Affordable Connectivity Program is a benefit program to help ensure that low income households can afford internet service. In order to qualify for ACP, you must have an annual income at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Limit (FPL) or be a recipient of one of the following programs:

• Free and Reduced-Price School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program

• SNAP

• Medicaid

• Federal Housing Assistance including Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program / Section 8 Vouchers

• Project-Based Rental Assistance (PBRA) / Section 202 / Section 811

• Public Housing

• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

• WIC

• Veterans Pension or Survivor Benefits, or

• Lifeline.

ACP provides a monthly discount of up to $30 toward internet service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands. Eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers if the household contributes more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase price.

To learn more about ACP or to apply, click here.