[Last updated: 07/20/2025]
Low-Income Energy Programs
Federal | Utility | Charitable
Federal
LIHEAP Contact
Public Inquiries: 1-866-857-7095
Individuals with hearing impairments may call 711
Luzerne County: 1-800-822-0359
Wyoming County: 570-836-4090
Website
Online Application
www.compass.state.pa.us/
LIHEAP Administering Agency Contact
Local Administering Agency Contacts
Weatherization Assistance Program
Local Administering Agency Contacts
Website
LIHEAP FY 2025 Funding
$229,249,527
*including additional $10,185,882 from Infrastructure and Jobs Act (IIJA), (Pub. L. 117-58)
LIHEAP Income Eligibility Level
150% Federal Poverty Guidelines
Weatherization: 200% Federal Poverty Guidelines
LIHEAP FY 2025 Benefit
Heating: $200 minimum, $1,000 maximum
Winter Crisis: $1,000 maximum
LIHEAP Households Served in FY 2024
Heating: 302,351
Winter Crisis: 86,996
Weatherization: 608
LIHEAP Program Dates
Heating: November 1 - April 4
Crisis: November 1 - April 4
Weatherization: Year-round
Utility
Low-income Rate Assistance
Pennsylvania's major gas and electric utilities are required to provide Customer Assistance Programs (CAPs), which generally provide a percentage of bill plan or a percentage of income payment plan, wherein low-income customers' utility payments are based upon their incomes and/or utility bills. Some programs include utility arrearage forgiveness; others provide flat rate discounts or bill credits. Under electric and gas restructuring legislation all electric and gas utilities are required to offer universal service programs, to include CAPs, and to continue pre-restructuring low-income programs.
Low-Income Energy Efficiency
Mandated by a 1987 PUC order, the Low-Income Usage Reduction Program (LIURP) was renewed in 1992 through 1996, and continued under universal service provisions of electric and gas utility restructuring legislation. The state's 15 major gas and electric utilities participate in LIURP with a pre-restructuring funding level of about 2/10 of one percent of each utility’s total revenues. LIURP includes an education component that addresses energy savings, regular bill payment behavior and provides application assistance.
Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania
1-800-537-7431
https://www.columbiagaspa.com/bills-and-payments/financial-support/income-eligible-assistance-programs
- CAP
Affordable payment plans for customers with low incomes and long-term bill payment problems. Eligibility: 150%, or below, federal poverty guidelines. - Security Deposit Assistance
Financial help for security deposit. This may be awarded once within a 12-month period on a first come first serve basis. - Emergency Repair Fund
Offers financial assistance for the repair or replacement of natural gas furnaces, water heaters, service & house lines and space heaters serving as the primary heat source for a residential dwelling. This program is designed to address emergency situations that involve unsafe service conditions for residential heat customers with low incomes, who own and are living in their home.
Duquesne Light
https://duquesnelight.com/account-billing/payment-assistance
- Customer Assistance Program (CAP)
Payment reduction based on percentage of household income and arrearage forgiveness. More information is available on Duquesne's website. To apply, call 1-888-393-7600 and a Duquesne Light representative will provide the name and telephone number of the CAP agency nearest you. - Smart Comfort
Energy audit, free weatherization measures, energy education and services and measures to reduce your electric use and lower your monthly bill. 1. Call Smart Comfort at 1-866-282-3147. When you call, please have the following information available: your 13-digit Duquesne Light account number (upper right on bill); monthly and/or yearly income of all household members and; the phone number(s) at which you can be reached. More information is available on Duquesne's website.
Met-Ed
1-800-962-4848
- CAP
Offers a reduced bill that is based on a percentage of income, and debt forgiveness. Eligibility: at or below 150% federal poverty guidelines. - WARM Program
Met-Ed partners with community-based organizations and energy conservation contractors who perform energy-saving home improvements and energy education for customers. Contact one of the social service agencies in the county where you reside.
National Fuel Gas
LIURP
Full weatherization conservation treatments and heating system and water heater replacement. LIURP includes an education component that addresses energy savings, regular bill payment behavior and provides application assistance. LIURP includes an education component that addresses energy savings, regular bill payment behavior and provides application assistance. For more information call 814-871-8200 in the Erie area and 1-800-365-3234 in other areas.
PECO
1-800-774-7040
https://www.peco.com/MyAccount/CustomerSupport/Pages/AssistancePrograms.aspx
- CAP-PIPP
Customers pay a percentage of their total household income as their monthly PECO bill. For first time CAP-PIPP enrollees, past due balances may be forgiven. - LIURP
Through the program, weatherization measures are installed in your home and you receive conservation education. The program is free of charge. 1-800-675-0222.
Penelec
1-800-962-4848
Warm Program
Penelec partners with community-based organizations and energy conservation contractors who perform energy-saving home improvements and energy education for customers. Contact one of the social service agencies in the county where you reside.
Penn Power
1-800-774-1674
WARM Program
Free home energy education and weatherization assistance to help eligible low-income customers. Contact one of the social service agencies in the county where you reside.
Pennsylvania Power & Light (PPL)
Payment Assistance
- OnTrack
A special payment plan that offers reduced monthly payments, protection from shutoffs and debt forgiveness. Administered by local agencies. 1-800-358-6623 - WRAP
Customers may qualify for energy education, energy-efficient appliances and home weatherization services such as insulation and caulking. WRAP is administered by local agencies. 1-888-232-6302
Peoples Natural Gas
1-800-764-0111
https://www.peoples-gas.com/my-account/
- CAP
Participants make affordable payments to maintain gas service by paying between 8 and 10 percent of their total monthly before tax household income each month. If you have received a LIHEAP grant, you may be automatically eligible to participate in CAP. Call 1-800-400-WARM (9276) for more information and to see if you qualify. - LIURP
Based on income and energy usage, customers may be eligible to receive heating system retrofits, weather-stripping, caulking, insulation and other energy-saving measures. Call 1-800-764-0111 for more information.
Philadelphia Gas Works(including tribal awards)
215-684-6100
http://www.pgworks.com/
Customer Responsibility Program
Reduced monthly billing for qualifying customers. Apply by mail or at a PGW Customer Service center year-round.
UGI
1-800-276-2722
- UGI Customer Assistance Program (CAP) The CAP offers a monthly payment based on a percentage of your household gross income (at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines based on income and household size) or on the average bill available to income eligible customers who may need help managing their utility bills. In most cases, this program will help make UGI bills more affordable. When CAP bills are paid on or before the due date, a portion of the past due balance will be forgiven. Learn more about CAP or check your eligibility.
1-800-276-2722
www.ugi.com/customer-services/customerassistance/cap/ - Low Income Usage Reduction Program (LIURP) Offers free energy conservation measures to high usage, low-income households to help make energy bills more affordable. Possible energy saving measures can include ceiling insulation, floor, duct and hot water pipe insulation, caulking and weather-stripping, gas heater repairs and water flow restrictors. Your gross annual income must be within 200% of the Federal Poverty Income Guidelines.
https://www.ugi.com/assistance-programs/LIURP/
West Penn Power
1-800-736-3404
West Penn Power
- PCAP
Benefits eligible customers:- Improves ability to pay by providing affordable bills
- Eliminates pre-program debt with forgiveness credits as bills are paid
- Reduces monthly bills by up to a maximum of $80 (non-electric heat) and $200 (electric heat)
- Helps customers save energy through conservation education or efficiency measures.
- WARM Program
Free home energy education and weatherization assistance to help eligible low-income customers.
Emergency Charitable Assistance
Please note these charitable funds are last resort emergency funds with limited resources and limited times of operation.
Dollar Energy Hardship Fund
The $1 Energy Fund, Inc. was founded in 1983 in Western Pennsylvania by a coalition of concerned community, religious, and business leaders, and has grown to become the fourth largest fuel fund in the country, both in clients served and dollars granted. The fund partners with utility companies across Pennsylvania. Each company matches every donation dollar for dollar and makes a separate donation towards administrative expenses. Applicants should contact their local community action agency.
Philadelphia Utility
Emergency Services Fund
The Philadelphia Utility Emergency Services Fund is one of the largest fuel funds in the country, providing over $2 million annually in energy crisis assistance benefits in recent years. It was created by utility companies, public officials, business leaders, and community organizations in response to increased terminations of gas, electric, and water service coupled with inadequate LIHEAP benefits. Philadelphia's three major utilities (gas, electric and water) provide a dollar-for-dollar match to every dollar raised and contribute to the fund's operating costs. Individuals can access the Utility Grant Program at any one of the UESF Intake Sites. At these sites, they can also receive access to a vast array of other energy, energy related, and other services.
National Fuel Gas
Neighbor For Neighbor Heat Fund
The fund is supported by customer, employee and shareholder donations that are used for cash grants to prevent disconnection of utility service, pay current or past due energy bills or purchase home heating fuel of any kind. Eligible customers include seniors 55 years or older and households with a member that has a handicap or disability that reduces household income. Applications are screened and grants are administered by human service organizations from the 14 Northwestern Pennsylvania counties. Call your local community service agency for assistance and check the website below for more information.
PECO
Matching Energy Assistance Fund (MEAF)
MEAF is an energy assistance program that enables PECO Energy to assist low-income, residential customers in its service territory with bill payment. MEAF is a customer pledge program in which PECO matches customer contributions.
1-800-774-7040
PPL
Operation Help
Funds may be used to pay any type of home heating bill (electric, natural gas, oil or coal). Funding comes from PPL, its customers, its employees and retirees. A network of 16 community groups and social service agencies across eastern and central Pennsylvania administers the program, interviews applicants and distributes funds.
1-800-342-5775
Penn Power
Reach Hardship Fund
The fund is supported by employee and customer contributions that are matched with corporate funds. Payments are made directly to energy vendors of low-income customers to help with energy bills. The funds are administered by the Salvation Army.
1-800-774-1674
UGI
Operation SHARE Energy Fund
UGI employee and company donations are distributed to payment-troubled customers to reduce bill arrearage or for emergency fuel and/or heating repair or replacement. Community based organizations throughout UGI’s service territory administer the funds.
https://www.ugi.com/assistance-programs/operation-share/
Adams Electric Cooperative
Project Helping Hand
Customer donations help less fortunate co-op members who are unable to pay their electric bills.
1-888-232-6732
Central Electric Cooperative
Family Fund
Fund assists needy families or individuals who have their permanent residence on Central Electric Cooperative lines. Funds are raised through contributions from members and employees.
1-800-521-0570
Claverack Electric Cooperative
Operation Round-Up
Members donations help low-income and in-need families in Claverack service territory. Contact the fund administrator, your county's Energy Assistance Office for application.
1-800-326-9799 or 570-265-2167
New Enterprise REC
Family In Need Fund
Member donations provide assistance to families in need. The Center for Community Action determines eligibility for these funds.
814-766-3221 ext. 224
Wellsboro Electric Company
$ Energy Fund
Provides grants to low-income residential customers for electric bills. To qualify for assistance, certain guidelines must be met:
- Eligible customers must apply for all available assistance grants before applying to the $1 Energy Fund
- They must meet the grant program guidelines, including making a sincere effort of payment (at least $100 on their account in the last 90 days).
- Applicants must have a balance on their utility bill of at least $100.
