Get Help With Your Winter Heating Bill

At Peoples, we are here to make gas more affordable for those customers who need a little extra help, especially during the cold months. We offer multiple financial assistance options and programs to provide support for those who need help with their heating bills.

LIHEAP

Funds are still available for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), a federally funded assistance program used to help customers with their home heating needs.

LIHEAP is a grant-based program from the Department of Human Services. This means that, unlike loan-based programs, the funds you receive do not have to be repaid. If you qualify for these grants, the funds can be applied directly to your Peoples bill.

Homeowners and renters are eligible to receive LIHEAP funds if the household income does not exceed the LIHEAP/Crisis Eligibility Guidelines.

To apply for the LIHEAP program, call 1-800-400-WARM (9276), or visit PA COMPASS to submit a LIHEAP application.

Dollar Energy Fund

Funds are also still available through the Dollar Energy Fund (DEF), a program that provides grants to people with low or fixed incomes.

DEF is funded by natural gas customers and by matching grants from Peoples. Like LIHEAP, this grant-based program does not require repayment.

To qualify for the Dollar Energy Fund, you must meet the following requirements:

• Have applied for LIHEAP/Crisis benefits first, if available.

• Have been threatened with termination of service, or your service has been turned off.

• Have an account with residential service for a single-family home or apartment.

• Have a gross income within the Federal Poverty Guidelines for the Dollar Energy Fund Hardship Grant.

• Have made a good faith payment on your account within 90 days prior to applying for the DEF.

DEF is open for a short time each year, and funds are limited, so if you qualify, don’t delay! Submit your application on the Dollar Energy Fund website.

Customer Assistance Program

Peoples’ Customer Assistance Program (CAP) provides participants with affordable, monthly, long-term bill payment plans so they can maintain their gas service.

Through CAP, payments are based on income, not gas usage, allowing customers to receive the services they need at a price they can afford.

To qualify for CAP, your household income must meet the Federal Poverty Guidelines, and you must be a current Peoples customer with active residential heating service.

For more information about enrolling in CAP, call 1-800-400-WARM (9276) or visit our CAP page.

Budget Billing Plan

For those who are looking to even out their energy costs year-round, Budget Billing could be the perfect option.

The Budget Billing Plan uses actual or estimated meter readings, gas usage data, and gas costs to average out your usage over the past 12 months and provides a predictable payment schedule. This schedule allows you to avoid seasonal changes in your gas bill and get rid of those spikes in the winter.

This program spreads higher bills over long periods of time and includes periodic budget reviews that can increase or decrease your standard monthly payment based on significant changes in your gas usage or current rates.

To ensure that the plan works, you pay only your budget amount — not your current charges or the actual account balance — on each bill. To remain on the plan you must make sure to pay the budget amount by the due date each month. Credit extensions and payment agreements are not granted for customers on the Budget Billing Plan.

Customers may discontinue Budget Billing at any time, but the account balance is due in full when you leave the plan.

To enroll in Budget Billing, you can call 1-800-764-0111 or enroll through your Peoples e-Account.