Energy United offers utility assistance
COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS (HELP PAYING YOUR BILL)
EnergyUnited is committed to the communities that we serve. That’s why we started the EnergyUnited Foundation way back in 1996. Since that time the foundation has provided well over $3 million in grants to individuals and non-profit organizations in our 19-county service area.
Would you like EnergyUnited to consider supporting a cause that is important to you? If you represent an organization within our 19-county service area and are seeking support from EnergyUnited, simply complete this form to submit an official donation request.
Find out more about the EnergyUnited Foundation >>
OTHER ASSISTANCE OPTIONS
There are other very helpful organizations that provide assistance to members of our community. If you are in need of assistance, make sure to consider these options:
CALL 211
Call 211 or visit 211.org to find local resources that can help relieve financial hardships. This free service can help with:
Utility bills
Housing, food & essentials
Child care
Medical/health expenses
Services for veterans
LOW INCOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (LIEAP)
The Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) is a federally-funded program that provides for a one-time vendor payment (one payment per member) to help eligible households pay their heating bills.
Applicant must meet income criteria and be responsible for heating costs.
Households including a person aged 60 or older or disabled persons receiving services through the NC Division of Aging and Adult Services are eligible to sign up for assistance from December 1 -31. All other households may apply from January 1 – March 31 or until funds are exhausted.
Contact your county’s Department of Social Services to apply.
CRISIS INTERVENTION PROGRAM (CIP)
The Crisis Intervention Program (CIP) is a federally funded program that assists individuals and families who are experiencing a heating or cooling related crisis.
A household is considered to be in a crisis if it is currently experiencing or is in danger of experiencing a life threatening or health related emergency and sufficient, timely and appropriate assistance is not available from any other source.
Life threatening is defined as a household which has no heating or cooling source or has a disconnect notice for their primary heating or cooling service and the health or well-being of a household member would be in danger if the heating or cooling crisis was not alleviated. Each household should be evaluated on a case by case basis to determine if there is a heating or cooling crisis.
Assistance can be authorized for heating or cooling appliance replacement or repair.
Applications are taken beginning July 1, 2021 – June 30,2022 or until the CIP allocation is exhausted, whichever comes first.
Contact your county’s Department of Social Services to apply.
COLD WEATHER SPECIAL NEEDS ASSISTANCE
With respect to bills rendered between December 15 and March 15 of every year and in the spirit of the policy considerations expressed by Congress in the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA) of 1978, the notice of proposed termination shall also contain a statement that no termination shall take place without the express approval of EnergyUnited’s Board of Directors and notification of the North Carolina Rural Electrification Authority. For the member’s account to be designated for the Cold Weather Special Needs Assistance, the member must meet all 3 of the following criteria:
A member of the Member household is either disabled or 65 years of age or older
The Member is unable to pay for such service in full
The household received the Certification Utilities Moratorium form from the local social service office which administers the Energy Crisis Assistance Program or other similar programs (whether funds are then available or not)
The member is still responsible for paying his/her bill and will continue to receive interest and penalties on the account for any past due amounts. As provided in the Summary of Member Rights and Responsibilities the Member must provide advance written notification and certification of meeting the requirements for special handling of accounts.
