Energy Assistance Programs

Hi, If you or someone you know are having difficulty paying for heat this winter and face living without heat, several programs are available to low income households to make home energy use more affordable, avoid shutoff of utility services during the winter, and maintain a warm and safe environment especially for the elderly, the disabled, and households with young children.

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (or LIHEAP) is a federally funded program to help eligible low-income homeowners and renters meet their home heating needs. The program provides:
Heating bill assistance up to $1000 annually
Energy conservation education
Dysfunctional heating system repair or replacement up to $5,000
Broken or inoperable window repair or replacement up to $1,000

Another program, Puget Sound Energy’s HELP provides assistance with the cost of natural gas consumption to qualified Puget Sound Energy (PSE) natural gas customers with an account in their name or in the name of a member of their household. HELP Provides: Puget Sound Energy customers help with their home energy costs and Natural gas bill assistance up to $1000 annually. To apply for LIHEAP or HELP call 1-800-348-7144.

In Seattle energy assistance is administered by Centerstone: Their LIHEAP and PSE HELP programs are already open. If you have an emergency situation such as you have been disconnected from your heat, are out of deliverable fuel such as oil or propane or have received an “urgent” notice from Seattle City Light or Puget Sound Energy and are facing disconnection within 10 days, you must pick up an “Emergency Packet” from Centerstone, so you can fill out the application and submit all of the required documents without waiting for an appointment. For more info visit center-stone.org/programs/energy-assistance

In South King County, The Multi-service center administers the program. Multi-Service center is currently scheduling appointments for PSE HELP. They are NOT scheduling LIHEAP appointments yet, however they are hopeful LIHEAP appointments will begin early December. For more information visit multi-servicecenter.com/get-help/energy-assistance

In North & East King County the energy assistance program is through Hopelink. Their LIHEAP and HELP programs are already open. Appointments open up Monday-Thursday at 9am: 9am is the best time to call because appointments go fast. They have a special line for seniors and people with disabilities which is 425-298-0014.  If you are completely disconnected or has less than a 10-day supply of oil, wood or propane they need to call their local Hopelink center to schedule an ER appointment: Bellevue 425-943-7555, Kirkland – 425-889-7880, Redmond – 425-882-0241, Shoreline – 206440-7300, Sno-Valley – 425-333-4163. For more information visit hope-link.org/get_help/energy_assistance

But no matter where you live (unless you are experiencing one of the emergency situations previously mentioned) to apply for the program, you must call the automated Energy Assistance Appointment Line 1-800-348-7144 to schedule an appointment at one of the three participating agencies, determined by ZIP code. That’s 1-800-348-7144.