Tennessee's mix of TVA power systems and private utilities, gas shutoff and medical rules, LIHEAP through THDA, Home Uplift, and local NES and MLGW funds.
Start by finding out who provides your service
Tennessee has an unusual mix of providers. The Tennessee Public Utility Commission (TPUC) sets rates and service standards for privately owned electric, natural gas, water and wastewater companies. Large public systems such as Nashville Electric Service (NES) and Memphis Light, Gas and Water (MLGW), along with many city utilities and electric cooperatives, deliver power from the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and are run by their own boards. Water is often handled by a city or a utility district. Each type follows different rules, so read the top of your bill and ask that provider for its written disconnection policy. If you are not sure whether TPUC covers your company, its Consumer Services Division can tell you.
Gas company notice and medical rules
For gas companies under TPUC, state rule 1220-04-05-.18 sets the floor. A shutoff for nonpayment needs a written notice sent by first-class mail, and the shutoff date must be at least seven days after mailing. The notice must state the amount owed and explain how to reach the utility and the state regulator. If a physician, public health officer or social service official certifies in writing that a shutoff would worsen an existing medical emergency, the gas company must hold off for 30 days while the household is referred to social service agencies. The company must also explain how to qualify for a different payment arrangement, and you do not have to pay a disputed part of a bill while the dispute is open.
Applying for LIHEAP through THDA's local agencies
The Tennessee Housing Development Agency (THDA) runs the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), but it does not take applications itself. A network of 19 local agencies covers all 95 counties, and you apply to the agency for the county where you live. Households at or below 60 percent of the state median income can qualify, with a focus on homes that spend a large share of income on energy. Help is a one-time payment toward heating or cooling costs while funds last. The money goes to your utility or fuel supplier, not to you. Have proof of household income and a recent bill ready, and ask the agency how soon it can process a crisis case.
Free upgrades through TVA EnergyRight Home Uplift
High bills often come from a drafty house or a worn-out heat pump. TVA EnergyRight's Home Uplift program pays for home energy upgrades for income-eligible customers of participating local power companies. TVA calls the work free and lists heating and cooling systems, insulation, appliances and electric water heaters among the possible upgrades. You must live in a single-family home, or a manufactured home built after 1976 on a permanent foundation. A home that received similar TVA-funded work in the past 20 years does not qualify. THDA also runs the federal Weatherization Assistance Program, which seals drafts and insulates attics, walls and floors, with priority for homes with young children, older adults or people with disabilities.
Bill help from NES and MLGW
The two largest city systems keep their own funds. NES runs Project Help, which gives temporary energy assistance to customers in need, and NES says none of the money goes to administrative costs. NES budget billing is open to residential customers who have had service at their address for six months, but a past due account is dropped from the plan. MLGW's Power of Giving Fund raises private money for customers who need help, and its Plus1 program lets customers add a dollar to their bill for neighbors. MLGW accepts assistance applications only through its My Account website or app, and approval is limited to once per calendar year. Have your cutoff notice, ID and income papers ready.
Complaints to the Tennessee Public Utility Commission
If a privately owned utility will not fix a billing or shutoff problem, contact the TPUC Consumer Services Division. You can use the online utility complaint form, email contact.tpuc@tn.gov or call the commission. After you file, the division will contact you. For a public power system, cooperative or utility district, ask the provider how to appeal inside its own organization, since those systems answer to their own boards. In every case, write down each call with the date and the name of the person you spoke with. Keep copies of notices, receipts and any payment arrangement. A clear paper trail makes a dispute faster to settle, no matter who reviews it.
Using Settlemont alongside Tennessee programs
A Tennessee household can post one current Utility bill on Settlemont while a LIHEAP application or a utility fund request is still in progress. Settlemont is bill payment technology, and the bill owner pays nothing to post or to be reviewed. Every submission is screened for duplicates and fraud signals, and staff verify the biller, the owner and the balance before approval. An approved page shows only a first name, the state, the category and the verified amount. A supporter picks an amount and pays a service fee on top, 7% by card or 5% by bank, and the support goes directly to the biller. Posting does not guarantee payment, so keep talking with your utility.
Sources
- Tennessee Public Utility Commission: Utility Complaint Resources
- Tennessee Housing Development Agency: LIHEAP
- Tennessee Housing Development Agency: Energy Assistance Programs
- TVA EnergyRight: Home Uplift
- Nashville Electric Service: Billing and Payment Programs
- MLGW: Power of Giving Fund
Facts checked November 2026. Rules change, so confirm with the agency or utility before relying on a protection.
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