Home Heating/Energy Assistance Programs

Hi, if you or someone you know are having difficulty paying for heat or electricity this winter 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.

Puget Sound Energy’s HELP, provides assistance beyond what’s offered by LIHEAP, 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. PSE's energy-conservation program also provides free weatherization assistance to qualified low-income households to help reduce energy usage. Funding covers energy efficiency improvements such as insulation, lighting and refrigerator replacements.

If you need help paying your heat bill this winter, call the Energy Assistance Hotline at 800-348-7144 to apply for LIHEAP or HELP. It's open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 

If, you have electric heat through Seattle City Light and after LIHEAP assistance, you are still behind more than $250 and get an urgent or shut off notice, call City Light's ELIA program at 206-684-3688. If you still need help after LIHEAP and ELIA, or if you are ineligible for LIHEAP and ELIA, call about City Light's Project Share funds 206-684-3000. Also, The City of Seattle Utility Discount Program provides reduced utility rates for income eligible families, seniors, and persons with disabilities. Qualified applicants receive a 50% discount on their Seattle City Light bill: call 206-684-0268 or e-mail UDP@seattle.gov.

But first you should call Energy Assistance Hotline to determine if you are eligible for LIHEAP and PSE HELP and to schedule an appointment with the provider that serves your community. In Seattle energy assistance is administered by Centerstone, in South King County the Multi-Service Center administers the program, and in North & East King County the energy assistance program is through Hopelink. To schedule an appointment at one of the three participating agencies (which is determined by ZIP code) you must call 1-800-348-7144.

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.

Energy and Utility Resource Fair thursday 10/25

Do you need help paying your electric, water, phone or other utility bills? Come to the annual Energy and Utility Resource Fair this Thursday, the 25th from 1 to 3 at Asian Counseling and Referral Service, at 3639 MLK Way. At the Energy and Utility Resource Fair you will:

·         Gain knowledge about utility assistance programs
·         Learn about housing programs
·         Learn about Asian Counseling and Referral Services
·         Receive updated information on Public Health
·         Get connected to Community Voice Mail, Lifeline Cell Phones, and subsidized internet programs.

Hosted by the Seattle Human Services Department, Utility Assistance Programs, in collaboration with Seattle City Light, Seattle Public Utilities and Asian Counseling Referral Service. Please spread the word by distributing the resource fair flyer.

That’s the Energy and Utility Resource Fair at The Annual Energy, Utility and Resource Summit this Thursday October 25^th from 1 pm to 3 pm at Asian Counseling Referral Service at 3639 Martin Luther King Jr. Way S. Seattle, 98144. Metro bus routes 7, 8, 9, 42 or Link Light Rail (Mt. Baker Station).

For more information, call 206-733-9035 or email cynthia.ellison@seattle.gov.

Energy Assistance through LIHEAP & HELP

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

Both these programs do not require that your household have a disconnection notice or even overdue bills in order to be eligible. In Seattle energy assistance is administered by Central Area Motivation program (or CAMP), In South King County, The Multi-service center administers the program, and in North & East King County the program is through Hopelink. But no matter where you live, 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.

Stay warm this winter with assistance through LIHEAP and HELP.

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
• Support for window repair up to $1000, chimney cleaning, and furnace repair or replacement up to $5000
• Eviction prevention up to $500

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

Both these programs do not require that your household have a disconnection notice or even overdue bills in order to be eligible. In Seattle energy assistance is administered by Central Area Motivation program (or CAMP), In South King County, The Multi-service center administers the program, and in North & East King County the program is through Hopelink. But no matter where you live, 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.

Stay warm this winter with assistance through LIHEAP and HELP.