Struggling to Afford Electricity? These Agencies Can Help
| Good to Know, Industry Happenings
The temperature isn’t the only thing reaching record highs this summer. For many people, their electricity bills have gone up, too — as much as 50% more than last year. And when you factor in inflation, which is at a 40-year high, it’s no wonder people have difficulty paying their monthly expenses.
Fortunately, help is available, and there are many organizations and assistance programs available for Texas families and residents who could use a hand. Hey, we’ve all been there at one time or another, right? If you’re in that position now, check out the organizations below.
Texas Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program (CEAP)
The Comprehensive Home Energy Assistance Program, also known as the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), provides financial assistance for utility costs to low-income and disabled households. There are several eligibility requirements, including being a Texas resident and income levels.
For more information, visit:
Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program (CEAP)
The Power to Care
Entergy’s The Power to Care program was established to help the elderly and disabled community members who are living on low or fixed incomes. It provides relief through emergency bill payment assistance to seniors and disabled individuals.
For more information, visit:
Texas Homeowner Assistance Fund
The Homeowners Assistance Fund was established to help our country’s most vulnerable homeowners by ensuring continuity of home electricity service by making payments directly to utility service providers. Texas residents can learn more are the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs.
For more information, visit:
Texas Utility Help
With funding from the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and the federal Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP), the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs can provide eligible households with financial assistance for utility payments.
For more information, visit:
Baker Ripley Assistance Program
The Baker Ripley Assistance Program helps families and individuals in Brazoria, Galveston, and Harris counties pay their electricity, gas, and water bills. There are several eligibility requirements, including being a resident of one of the three aforementioned counties, having proof of citizenship, and income requirements.
For more information, visit:
Baker Ripley Utility Assistance Program
Other County-Specific Programs
The Baker Ripley Assistance Program isn’t the only county-specific program out there. In fact, most counties in Texas also have programs available for their residents. Below is a list of potential resources alongside the counties they serve and links to the websites.
Aspermont Small Business Development Center, Inc.
Counties: Haskell, Jones, Kent, Knox, Stonewall, and Throckmorton
Bexar County Department of Community Resources
Counties: Bexar
Big Bend Community Action Committee, Inc.
Counties: Brewster, Culberson, Hudspeth, Jeff Davis, and Presidio
Brazos Valley Community Action Agency, Inc.
Counties: Brazos, Burleson, Grimes, Leon, Madison, Montgomery, Robertson, Walker, Waller, and Washington
Cameron and Willacy Counties Community Projects, Inc.
Counties: Cameron and Willacy
Central Texas Opportunities, Inc.
Counties: Brown, Callahan, Coleman, Comanche, Eastland, McCulloch, and Runnels
Counties: Collin, Dallas, Denton, Tarrant, Wise Argyle, Carrolton, Coppell, Frisco, Lake Dallas, Lewisville, Little Elm, and Northwest School Districts
City of Fort Worth Community Action Partners
Counties: Tarrant
Combined Community Action, Inc.
Counties: Austin, Bastrop, Colorado, Fayette, and Lee
Community Action Committee of Victoria, TX
Counties: Aransas, Calhoun, DeWitt, Goliad, Gonzales, Jackson, Lavaca, Refugio, and Victoria
Community Action Corporation of South Texas
Counties: Bee, Brooks, Cameron, Duval, Jim Wells, Kenedy, Kleberg, San Patricio, and Willacy
Community Action Inc., of Central Texas
Counties: Blanco, Caldwell, and Hays
Community Council of South Central Texas, Inc.
Counties: Atascosa, Bandera, Comal, Dimmit, Edwards, Frio, Gillespie, Guadalupe, Karnes, Kendall, Kerr, Kinney, La Salle, Live Oak, McMullen, Maverick, Medina, Real, Uvalde, Val Verde, Wilson, and Zavala
Community Services Agency of South Texas
Counties: Dimmit, LaSalle, and Maverick
Community Services of Northeast Texas, Inc.
Counties: Bowie, Camp, Cass, Delta, Franklin, Hopkins, Lamar, Marion, Morris, Rains, Red River, and Titus
Concho Valley Community Action Agency
Counties: Coke, Concho, Crockett, Irion, Kimble, Menard, Reagan, Schleicher, Sterling, Sutton, and Tom Green
Dallas County Department of Health and Human Services
Counties: Dallas
Economic Action Committee of The Gulf Coast
Counties: Matagorda
Economic Opportunities Advancement Corporation (EOAC)
Counties: Bosque, Ellis, Falls, Freestone, Hill, Limestone, McLennan, and Navarro
El Paso Community Action Program, Project BRAVO, Inc.
Counties: El Paso
Galveston County Community Action Council, Inc.
Counties: Brazoria, Fort Bend, Galveston, and Wharton
Greater East Texas Community Action Program (GETCAP)
Counties: Anderson, Angelina, Chambers, Cherokee, Gregg, Hardin, Henderson, Houston, Jefferson, Kaufman, Liberty, Nacogdoches, Orange, Polk, Rusk, San Jacinto, Smith, Trinity, Van Zandt, and Wood
Harris County Community Services Department
Counties: Harris
Hidalgo County Community Services Agency
Hidalgo
Hill Country Community Action Association, Inc.
Counties: Bell, Coryell, Hamilton, Lampasas, Llano, Mason, Milam, Mills, and San Saba
Counties: City of Irving
Counties: Kenedy and Kleberg
Lubbock Community Development Department
Counties: Lubbock
Counties: Denton County: Carrollton, Addison, Farmers Branch, Coppell, and Dallas zip code 75287
Nueces County Community Action Agency
Counties: Nueces
Counties: Armstrong, Brisco, Carson, Castro, Childress, Collingsworth, Dallam, Deaf Smith, Donley, Gray, Hall, Hansford, Hartley, Hemphill, Hutchinson, Lipscomb, Moore, Ochiltree, Oldham, Parmer, Potter, Randall, Roberts, Sherman, Swisher, and Wheeler
Pecos County Community Action Agency
Counties: Crane, Pecos, and Terrell
Rolling Plains Management Corporation
Counties: Archer, Baylor, Clay, Cottle, Foard, Hardeman, Jack, Montague, Shackelford, Stephens, Taylor, Wichita, Wilbarger, and Young
South Plains Community Action Association, Inc.
Counties: Bailey, Cochran, Crosby, Dickens, Floyd, Garza, Hale, Hockley, King, Lamb, Lynn, Motley, Terry, and Yoakum
South Texas Development Council
Counties: Jim Hogg, Starr, and Zapata
Counties: Tarrant
Counties: Erath, Hood, Johnson, Palo Pinto, Parker, Somervell, and Wise
Counties: Collin, Cooke, Denton, Fannin, Grayson, Hunt, and Rockwall
Travis County Health & Human Services and Veterans Services
Counties: Travis
Tri-County Community Action, Inc.
Counties: Harrison, Jasper, Newton, Panola, Sabine, San Augustine, Shelby, Tyler, and Upshur
Webb County Community Action Agency
Counties: Webb
West Texas Opportunities, Inc.
Counties: Andrews, Borden, Dawson, Ector, Loving, Reeves, Ward, Winkler, Fisher, Gains, Glasscock, Howard, Martin, Midland, Mitchell, Nolan, Scurry, and Upton Ward
Williamson-Burnet County Opportunities, Inc.
Counties: Burnet and Williamson
Call 2-1-1
If you need financial assistance with your electricity or utility bill, you can also contact 2-1-1 Texas to receive information about the organizations or services in your area that might be able to help. Dial 2-1-1 from your phone, call 877-541-7905, or visit 211texas.org.
Sources:
https://www.texastribune.org/2022/07/05/texas-energy-bills-natural-gas-export/