Energy Company Hardship Funds: How to Ask for One
Ask your utility about hardship funds early, then file with bills and income proof before service is cut.
An energy company hardship fund is a limited pool of aid that pays part of a past-due utility bill for a household facing shutoff. To ask for one, call the customer-service number on your bill early, explain the financial hardship, and ask specifically about emergency, hardship, and payment-plan options for your account. That first call matters because each utility sets its own fund rules, partners, and caps.
According to Dollar Energy Fund, starting with that call helps staff match you to the right choice for your account Dollar Energy Fund application guidance.
Verification note: Program terms and availability can change. This page was checked against linked sources on November 04, 2026.
What should you ask your utility first?
Call before service is cut if you can. Say you face hardship, name a shutoff date if you have one, and ask about emergency help, hardship grants, and payment plans together. Write down the program name, partner agency, amount limit, and document list.
Ask where to file, whether one filing can cover gas, electric, water, and wastewater, and what happens if funds run out.
How does a Dollar Energy Fund application work?
Some utilities use Dollar Energy Fund to process hardship aid. Applicants can file one online application through MyApp Connect covering gas, electric, water, and wastewater help with participating utilities, with bill and income documents uploaded in one place. Approved grants are not cash to the household.
Dollar Energy Fund reports that approved hardship grants are paid directly to the customer utility account to maintain or restore service Dollar Energy Fund program announcement.
- Utility bill showing account and past-due amount
- Proof of household income
- Shutoff or termination notice, if received
- ID and household details requested on the form
What do utility-run funds look like?
Amounts and delivery vary by company. For example, PG&E reports that its REACH program, processed by Dollar Energy Fund, offers a bill credit up to $800 tied to the past-due balance for income-eligible households with a 15-day or 48-hour shutoff notice PG&E bill-assistance details. Duke Energy reports that its Share the Light Fund distributes aid through agencies such as community action agencies and the Salvation Army.
Eligibility reflects income, family size, and available resources, with credits up to $300 annually for bills, deposits, or reconnection charges. Use those examples as a comparison, not a promise. Your utility may use a different partner, cap, or notice rule.
Should you also seek LIHEAP help?
Hardship funds and federally funded LIHEAP help are separate. LIHEAP is applied for locally through a state office or community action agency, or located through the National Energy Assistance Referral line at 1-866-674-6327. The Citizens Utility Board notes that applicants generally need ID, 30-day income proof, current utility bills, and any shutoff notice LIHEAP application steps.
Gather those papers before you call or file. Both types of aid are funding-limited and may close before published end dates. A late filing or missing income, bill, or termination-notice document can mean denial or referral only to a payment plan.