Get Financial Relief for Your Energy and Water Bills with Texas Utility Help
As the scorching Texas heatwave sends temperatures soaring into triple digits, residents are increasingly relying on air conditioning to maintain comfort and safety. This escalated usage, however, comes with the looming fear of hefty energy bills that could put a dent in one’s finances. But thanks to the Texas Utility Help program, financial relief is in sight for low-income households.
The Texas Utility Help program, which is currently open for applications, aims to offer financial aid to cover a range of eligible expenses. These include electricity, gas, propane, water, and wastewater services. Interested households can apply through the program’s website, texasutilityhelp.com. For those who lack access to a computer or the internet, they can designate a representative to file an application on their behalf.
Offering grants that are directly channeled to utilities, the Texas Utility Help program provides much-needed assistance to both qualifying homeowners and renters. This is not a loan and, as such, does not need to be repaid. The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs oversees this program, funded federally.
To be considered eligible for the program, households must have a maximum income that does not exceed 150% of federal poverty guidelines. As an example, this translates to an annual income of $21,870 for a single-person household and $45,000 for a family of four. These limits are established based on the number of people residing in the home and their collective gross income before any taxes or other deductions are made. Additionally, at least one member of the household must either be a U.S. citizen or a qualified alien, which includes permanent residents and several other groups.
The program is designed to offer financial aid equal to the total past-due amount. However, having past-due bills isn’t a prerequisite for qualifying for the program. In certain cases, the program can facilitate a one-time advance payment of up to $2,400, which is paid directly to utilities.
Texas Utility Help program offers customer support from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, through a toll-free number (855-566-2057), with assistance available in multiple languages. The program is funded by the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program and the federal Low Income Household Water Assistance Program.
In a noteworthy move this year, the TDHCA has injected an additional $48 million from the Federal Infrastructure and Jobs Investment Act into the Texas Utility Help program. This added funding will further aid Texans in managing their energy bills.
There are additional avenues for assistance with utility bills available for qualifying residents. The TDHCA offers an online tool that assists Texans in locating such assistance and checks for locally available help. Moreover, the Texas Homeowner Assistance Fund extends financial support to eligible homeowners who have fallen behind on utility, mortgage, and other payments due to circumstances related to the pandemic. Applications for this assistance can be submitted online at texashomeownerassistance.com.
