Texas Utility Help assists with paying electricity, gas, propane and water bills

Texans are relying on air conditioning to stay cool and safe amid this summer’s high temperatures, which means an uptick in home-energy costs. But there is assistance for low-income households through the Texas Utility Help program.

Now accepting applications, the program offers financial help for eligible expenses, including electricity, gas, propane, water and wastewater. The help is located at texasutilityhelp.com

Applications are accepted through the website. Households that don’t have access to a computer or the internet can appoint a representative to submit an application for them.

“Facing the difficult choice of putting food on the table or paying their utility bills, many households sometimes skip the latter,” said AARP Texas Director Tina Tran. “Families in need are encouraged to seek financial assistance available to them for energy and water bills to ensure that they have access to essential utilities.”

For questions, Texas Utility Help can be reached 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday at a toll-free number, 855-566-2057. The call center provides help in multiple languages.

The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) administers the federally funded program. Households may be eligible if their maximum income is at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. That means an annual income, for instance, of $21,870 for a household of one. For a household of four, it’s an income level of $45,000. The maximum income allowed is based on how many people live in the home and their gross income before taxes and other deductions.

Up to $2,400 in assistance

At least one member of the household must be a U.S. citizen or a qualified alien, which is an individual with permanent resident status in the United States.

The program can provide financial assistance up to the total past-due amount. But it is not necessary to have past-due bills to qualify for the program. The program can provide a one-time advance payment up to $2,400 paid directly to utilities.

Funding for Texas Utility Help comes from the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program and the federal Low Income Household Water Assistance Program. Earlier this year, the TDHCA put $48 million of additional money from the Federal Infrastructure and Jobs Investment Act into the Texas Utility Help program to help Texans pay energy bills.

Texas Utility Help also introduced a program change this year that adds future payments for water and wastewater assistance at $85 per month, through Sept. 30, 2023. Previously, water assistance was only available for past-due balances. Now, Texas Utility Help will send a payment to the approved applicant's water and wastewater provider as one lump sum equal to the applicant's past-due balance (if any) plus $85 per month for future water and wastewater bills, through Sept. 30, 2023

Utilities can help

Besides the Texas Utility Help program, there are other ways of finding utility-cost assistance. The TDHCA offers help at this website: https://www.tdhca.state.tx.us/texans.htm

Utility companies also can sometimes help customers in financial need. If you are having trouble paying your utility bill or want more information on how to lower your energy bills, your utility provider should be contacted. Many offer budget-billing programs that let you pay a set amount each month.

Some utilities also offer special protections for customers who have disabilities, are on Supplemental Security Income or are on medical life-support equipment. The utility company may devise an affordable payment plan or put you in touch with a nonprofit that may be able to help.

Ask your utility company about rate options as well. Some utilities offer a low-income rate discount. Others offer time-of-use rates that lower bills if you can move your consumption off-peak.

Ways to cut utility costs

Regardless of help from government programs or your utility, there are ways to take steps to curb rising energy costs. Here are some ways to save.

• Banish power vampires. The modern home has lots of devices that suck electricity even when turned off, costing an average of $100 per year, according to the Department of Energy. Chargers for phones, tablets and other cordless devices drink juice even when they are not charging anything, so unplug them when not in use. Likewise, turn off or unplug televisions, computers, cable boxes and game consoles — anything with a little indicator light.
  
• Cover your windows. Homes lose about 30 percent of their heating energy through windows in the winter, and 76 percent of sunlight that falls on double-pane windows becomes heat in the summer. Put down the blinds and consider blackout curtains.
  
• Lower the temperature on your water heater. Hot water accounts for about 18 percent of energy use. If your water-heater setting is high, consider turning it down.

Read more about ways to cut costs on summer electric bills here: https://www.aarp.org/money/budgeting-saving/info-2020/cut-costs-summer-electric-bills.html