Trouble Paying Your Energy Bill? Do This

Don’t you wish that your income could increase as quickly as your bills seem to? Every month your expenses get higher, while your income stays the same or drops. And this can make meeting your monthly budget impossible.

While there are several things you can do to stretch your budget, like apply for Section 8 housing vouchers or get food stamps via SNAP, we’ll focus on how to get help with paying your energy bills in this guide. Since it’s quite challenging to live without electricity, be sure to make these moves as soon as possible.

1. Apply for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).

Heating and cooling costs can make your energy bills skyrocket. For evidence of this, just look at your past bills from the winter and summer months.

As temperatures go up and down, your AC or furnace will have to work extra hard to keep your home comfortable. The more these appliances run, the more money you’ll have to fork over to pay your electricity bill.

The government created LIHEAP to help low-income households pay for those expensive heating and cooling costs. It doesn’t just offer aid with money towards your current energy bill, however, as LIHEAP can also help you make your future bills more affordable.

Chances are, your home isn’t as energy-efficient as it needs to be to keep your heating and cooling costs low. With LIHEAP’s “weatherization,” you can increase your home’s efficiency, so your AC or furnace doesn’t have to work overtime.

Examples of weatherization include installing insulation or sealing windows and doors. In doing so, you can keep the desired air from escaping and undesired air from entering. If your heating or cooling appliances require repair, LIHEAP can help there too. You may even get full replacements.

By reducing current and future energy costs, LIHEAP gives you the best of both worlds when it comes to saving money on your electricity bill. It may not be a quick fix, but it’s undoubtedly a necessary one if you’re serious about cutting your costs.

To apply for LIHEAP, go here and contact your local office.

2. Find energy assistance resources in your state.

Depending on where you live may have other options that can help with your energy bill besides LIHEAP. Go here to find those options by clicking on your state.

You may be able to apply online for energy assistance. You may also use the link to find programs offered by cities that provide additional help.

In Florida, for example, Key West has a program that helps seniors and disabled veterans with their electric bills. Tampa also has a program in conjunction with the Salvation Army.

Some areas also have emergency charitable assistance to help as a last resort. Your best bet is to contact as many programs as possible until one accepts you.

3. Call the National Energy Assistance Referral (NEAR) hotline at 1-866-674-6327.

They can put you in touch with a LIHEAP office or other energy assistance programs. You can also email them at energyassistance@ncat.org.