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If you can’t afford your energy bill, contact your utility today and ask about payment arrangements and any scheduled shutoff date; then apply promptly for local energy assistance. In the U.S., programs, funding, and disconnection protections vary by state, provider, and household circumstances, so verify details with your local utility and assistance agency.
What to do today if you can’t pay
- Call your utility. Use the number on your bill or the provider’s official website. Explain what you can pay and when, and ask what hardship options or payment arrangements are available.
- Get the disconnection status. If you received a shutoff notice, ask whether a date is scheduled and exactly what amount or action would prevent disconnection. Ask whether the utility can place a hold while an assistance application is pending, but do not assume it will.
- Request the terms in writing. If you agree to a payment arrangement, ask for its amount, due dates, and consequences for missing a payment in writing.
- Tell the local assistance office if shutoff is imminent. A notice may affect how the agency handles your request. Ask what crisis assistance is available and how quickly it can act.
These steps can clarify your options, but neither a utility call nor an application guarantees a payment plan, a pause in disconnection, or restored service.
Apply for energy-bill assistance
LIHEAP: help with heating or cooling bills
The federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps eligible households with energy costs and may offer emergency help during an energy crisis. Eligibility, application methods, benefit amounts, and available funds differ by state or territory. Find your local program through USAGov’s energy-bill help page, then check directly with the local administrator whether applications are open, what documents are required, and whether funds remain. Funding and application schedules can change during the season.
There is no reliable national benefit amount to expect: the official guidance cited here does not establish one. California, for example, describes one-time bill assistance and crisis intervention, but says funding is limited and some otherwise eligible households may not receive assistance when funds are prioritized for those in greatest need. That is a California-specific description, not a guarantee of the same benefit elsewhere.
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Weatherization Assistance Program: reduce future energy use
The Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) may provide energy-saving home improvements to income-qualified households. It can help reduce energy use over time, but it is not a short-notice bill payment or a response to an imminent shutoff. Contact your state WAP office to ask about eligibility and availability; USAGov’s energy-bill help page links to state resources.
Can your utility shut off power or gas for nonpayment?
There is no single U.S. shutoff rule or deadline. State rules can depend on the weather, the provider, and household circumstances such as age or disability. Start with your utility’s hardship or consumer information and your state public utility commission or service commission. Confirm that the commission regulates your provider: rules may not apply to some municipal utilities, rural electric cooperatives, or deliverable-fuel providers.
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The HHS/ACF LIHEAP Clearinghouse’s overview, last updated July 20, 2026, reports that 42 states have cold-weather disconnection protection policies. That count means states have some policy; it does not mean every household or utility is covered. A restriction may delay disconnection without erasing past-due balances or ongoing charges, so continue pursuing a payment arrangement and assistance.
State examples show why you should check current local rules rather than rely on a national deadline. Indiana’s Program Year 2027 Energy Assistance Program lists an application period from October 1, 2026, through April 30, 2027, and describes winter moratorium protection for eligible applicants who have applied. Illinois announced a LIHEAP season beginning October 1, 2026, with priority groups and a later start for other eligible households. Those dates and conditions apply to those states, not to the U.S. generally.
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If your service has already been disconnected
Use USAGov’s state-specific route to find local energy assistance, and contact both the utility and the local agency. Ask the utility what payment, application, inspection, or other step is required to restore service, and confirm the expected timing directly. Ask the agency whether crisis help is available. An application does not automatically reconnect service, and restoration requirements vary.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.If the utility has not resolved your concern
First try to resolve the issue with the utility and keep copies of notices, bills, and any payment-plan terms. If the dispute remains unresolved, consult the relevant state public utility commission or service commission, after checking whether your provider is under its authority. The LIHEAP Clearinghouse also advises trying the utility first and then contacting the relevant commission or service commission.
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