Help with winter heating bills

Get ahead of the cold months

Heating bills often climb sharply in the coldest months, and the best time to plan is before the first big bill arrives. Look at last winter's statements to find your highest month. Ask your utility about budget billing, which spreads expected costs across the year so January looks more like October. Change the furnace filter and have the system serviced if it has not been checked in a while, since a struggling furnace burns more fuel. If you heat with propane or heating oil, ask your dealer about budget or prepay plans before the season starts. Call your state energy assistance office to ask when it begins taking applications, then put that date on your calendar.

How LIHEAP helps with heat

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is a federal program run by the states. It can help eligible households pay heating bills, prevent shutoffs, restore service and make homes more energy efficient through minor energy related repairs. Congress sets its funding each year, and each state decides its own income limits, benefit amounts and application dates within federal rules. To find where to apply, visit energyhelp.us, which lists contacts by state, or ask your utility which local agency takes applications. LIHEAP never charges a fee for benefits. If someone calls offering an energy grant in exchange for a payment, hang up, because it is a scam.

Winter shutoff rules depend on where you live

There is no single national rule against winter shutoffs. Each state writes its own, and they take different forms. Some states block disconnections between set dates in winter. Others protect customers when the temperature falls or is forecast to fall below a certain level, and some use both. Many add protections for older adults, people with disabilities or households with medical needs. These rules generally apply to utilities regulated by the state, so city-owned utilities, rural electric cooperatives and delivered fuel dealers are often not covered. Check your state public utility commission's website to learn the rules where you live, and ask your own utility whether they apply to your account.

The spring balance problem

Winter protections stop shutoffs, but they do not stop the bill from growing. When the protected season ends, households that paid little over the winter can face a large balance and a disconnection notice at the same time. At that point utilities usually offer a repayment plan or send a shutoff notice. You can soften that moment by paying something every month during winter, even a small amount on top of any assistance. Before the season ends, call the utility and set up a plan you can afford for the remaining balance. If a notice comes anyway, ask about LIHEAP crisis help. Federal law requires crisis programs to provide some form of help within 48 hours after an eligible household applies.

Propane, heating oil and wood

If you heat with a delivered fuel, utility shutoff rules usually do not protect you, so plan differently. A single fill can mean a large bill all at once. Ask your dealer about budget plans, delivery minimums, smaller deliveries or a price lock before winter. Watch your tank level and order well before you get close to empty. LIHEAP can help with delivered fuels in many states, and some programs pay the dealer directly. If you run out during a cold snap, call your local energy assistance office and say you have no heat. Never use an oven, grill or outdoor heater indoors to stay warm, because they can produce deadly carbon monoxide.

Weatherization and low cost fixes

The Weatherization Assistance Program from the U.S. Department of Energy is run at the state and local level, and it makes homes more energy efficient for eligible households. To apply, find your state weatherization administrator through the Department of Energy website and ask about eligibility and the steps to sign up. LIHEAP can also fund some weatherization and minor energy repairs. While you wait, low cost steps help: weatherstrip doors, seal drafty windows with plastic film, close vents in unused rooms and open curtains on sunny days, then close them at night. Set the thermostat a few degrees lower while you sleep or are away. Each step trims heat loss, and together they can make a noticeable dent in a winter bill.

Using Settlemont for a winter utility bill

If a gas or electric heating bill is more than you can cover, you can submit it to Settlemont in the Utility category. You give your first name, email, state, category, amount and due date, with no statement upload and no account number. A one-time private access code then lets you name the utility in a separate step. Staff check the biller, your ownership and the current balance before approval. Supporters can choose an amount to help pay, with a fee of 7% by card or 5% by bank added on top, and their support goes directly to the utility. You never pay Settlemont anything. A posted bill may not be paid before its due date, so keep your LIHEAP application and payment plan active.

Sources

• Administration for Children and Families: Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program
• LIHEAP Clearinghouse: Cold weather disconnect policies
• LIHEAP Clearinghouse: State disconnect policies
• LIHEAP Clearinghouse: Crisis following the lifting of a winter moratorium
• U.S. Department of Energy: How to apply for weatherization assistance

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