Financial Assistance Programs

Customer Assistance Programs (CAP)

CAP is for low income or otherwise needy households with temporary or long term reduction and budgeting of payments. EACH utility has a separate program, so a FIN MUST apply to each one separately:

ALOCOSAN- 1 800 282 6816

Columbia: 1 800 537 7431

Duquene Light Company: 1 888 393 7600 

First Energy (Met-Ed adn Penelec): 1 800 545 7741

First Energy (Penn Power): 1 800 720 3600

First Energy (West Penn Power): 1 800 686 0021

PA American Water: 1 888 282 6816

People's Gas: 1 800 400 9276

People's Township: 1 800 222 5101


Dollar Energy Fund Hardship Program

Dollar Energy Hardship Program is a grant program to help
people pay outstanding utility bills. 

To have any questions answered, please email uspledges@duqlight.com

Please click here for list of utility partners 

Applicants must meet the following requirements: 

  • Have a household income at or below 250% of the Federal Poverty Income Guidelines

  •  Have already applied for LIHEAP (see links below), CRISIS and/or WARM, if eligible

  •  Have made a payment of at least $150 on their accounts in the past three months. (Senior Citizens, age 62 and over, must have paid at least $100 on their accounts.)

  •  Have an outstanding balance on your utility bill of at least $100. (Senior Citizens, age 62 and over, may have a $0 balance as long as there is no existing credit on the account.)

 

Applicants must provide the following documents - Must have ALL items:

  • Proof of all household income from the past 30 days
  • Most recent utility bill
  • Termination notice (if applicable)
  • Proof of required payment within the past three months
  • Names and dates of birth of all household members
  • Social Security number of account holder
  • 3 Ways to assist a FIN to apply:
  • Online through the Hardship fund link:

Click on the link below 


Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program
LIHEAP

1 877 395 8930

This is a grant program for low income households can apply for energy assistance grants.
Program usually opens in November/December and closes around April/May
Please look at website for specific timeline info each year


Crisis Grant- A LiHEAP Program

Crisis grants are available for customer facing electric service termination and will lose their heating. You can request the Crisis Grant be split between utilities (gas and electric)

Emergency situations include: 

  • Broken heating equipment or leaking lines that must be fixed

  • Termination of utility service

  • Danger of being without fuel 

To Apply:


90 W Chestnut Street, Suite 300 East Wing
Washington, PA 15301

Toll-Free: 1-800-835-9720
Phone: 724-223-4300
LIHEAP 724-223-5246

Valley District
595 Galiffa Drive
P.O. Box 592
Donora, PA 15033-0592

OFFICE HOURS: 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m.

  • Toll-Free: 1-800-392-6932
  • Phone: 724-379-1500
  • LIHEAP 724-379-1549

H2O To Help Others Program-- American Water

Provides financial assistance in the form of grants and reduction in bills to eligible customers. Financial guidelines are on the webpage link provided. 

WATER SERVICE ASSISTANCE

  • Grants of up to $500 per household per year.

  • A 30% to 90% discount on the monthly service fee and a 20% to 80% discount on the monthly volumetric charges, which saves the average residential customer using 3,201 gallons/month $17.66 to $64.99 every month. *See chart below.

  • Water-saving devices and education. The water-saving kit includes a low-flow shower head, faucet aerators, toilet tank diverter and non-toxic leak-detecting dye tablets. Also included is an educational booklet that explains how to install the devices and provides helpful tips on how to save water inside and outside the home, so customers can take an active part in reducing their water bill through wise water use.

  • Arrearage Forgiveness Program to help customers pay off their past due account balance. 

WASTEWATER SERVICE ASSISTANCE

  • Grants of up to $500 per household per year.

  • A 37% to 85% discount on the total wastewater charges, which saves the average residential customer using 3,201 gallons/month $40.53 to $93.12 every month.


PA Public Utility Commision

Regulates utility services. If you have a complaint after dealing with a utility, contact PUC for an informal (billing issues, service quality, and payment needs) or formal (rate protest) complaints.

1 800 692 7380


PA Utility Law Project

Providese info, assistance, and advice about residential utility and energy matters for low income customers. 

1 800 645 2500

Energy Saving/Winterization Programs

Duquene Light Smart Home Comfort Program

Helps eligible customers reduce their electric bills through energy education and conservation measures. An energy manager will visit you in your home and provide energy education and usage reduction measures through an energy audit. The program provides conservation measures at no charge, energy education, services and measures to reduce your electric use and lower your monthly bill, and referrals to other community programs.

Individuals on CAP who are in danger of running out of funding or are not making consistent payments can have this program. SVdP is a group that can provide a referral. If you ask DLC for permission to refer.

Concact: 1-866-282-3147

Questions they will ask:
- Type of housing (apartment, house, townhome, ect)
- Landlord Name and #
- Type of heating
-Do they own their refrigerator/freezer
- Do they use space heaters 

**** When they call the FIN to schedule, the FIN will have to answer a call to a number they don't know. This program does  not leave messages. Please emphasize this to FIN


People's Gas
Usage Reduction Program (LIURP)

 LIURP is a weatherization program that helps customers reduce energy costs. To "weatherize" your home, we would help make your home more energy efficient, which will help you save money heating and cooling a home.

Examples of weatherization measures: heating system improvements, attic and wall caulking, insulation, and weather-stripping.

To see if you are eligible for our weatherization improvements, we'll look at the following requirements:

  • -Your household income meets guidelines (CAP recipients will likely qualify)

  • -You must have lived in the home for at least one year.  

Several Ways to Apply:

Call : 1 412 935 0517 

Or

Call the People's Gas Customer Service Center at 1-800-764-0111 

 email: peopleshelps@peoples-gas.com. 


Columbia Gas Warm Wise Program

Low Income Usage Reduction Program (LIURP)

Similar to the People's Gas program. Sign up is done more directly through Columbia Gas.


Phone number 1 800 537 7431