Pittsburgh Duquesne Light Bill Help 2026–27: CAP, LIHEAP Grants Up to $1,000, Dollar Energy Fund and Your Winter Shutoff Protections
Updated: 8 hours ago
If your Duquesne Light bill has gotten ahead of you, there's more help available in the Pittsburgh area than most people realize, and the timing this year matters. Pennsylvania's LIHEAP heating grants open November 2, 2026. Dollar Energy Fund's Hardship Program opened October 1. And from December 1 through March 31, many lower-income households can't be shut off without state approval.
Here's how each program works, who qualifies, and the order to try them in.
Last reviewed: October 2026. How we research and correct guides like this one is explained in our Editorial Standards.
Code § 56.100 (winter termination rules). This is general information. Each program makes its own decisions.
Pittsburgh bill help at a glance
Behind and low-income? Apply for Duquesne Light's Customer Assistance Program (CAP): a reduced monthly bill based on income, plus debt forgiveness over 24 months. Income limit: under 150% of the poverty guidelines ($49,500 a year for a family of four in 2026).
LIHEAP 2026/27: opens Monday, Nov. 2, 2026, runs through Friday, April 23, 2027. Cash grants run $200 to $1,000; Crisis grants up to $1,000 for the season.
Facing a shutoff? Dollar Energy Fund's Hardship Program is open now for households with a pending or completed termination, first come, first served.
Temporary hardship, any income? CARES has no income limit.
Winter rule: Dec. 1–March 31, Duquesne Light generally can't shut off a household at or below 250% of poverty without PUC permission.
Duquesne Light Universal Services: 1-888-393-7600.
Step 1: Call Duquesne Light First
Almost every program starts the same way: with a call to Duquesne Light's Universal Services Center at 1-888-393-7600. Dollar Energy Fund's own announcement tells customers facing a crisis to "begin by contacting their utility provider." The utility can check what you qualify for, set up a payment arrangement and refer you to a local agency.
Ask about:
A payment arrangement on the past-due balance
CAP enrollment
A referral to CARES or a Dollar Energy Fund agency
Weatherization or an income-eligible energy assessment, which Duquesne Light lists among its payment assistance programs
Customer Assistance Program (CAP)
CAP is Duquesne Light's main low-income program. According to the company, it offers:
Reduced monthly payments under a Percentage of Income Payment Plan, based on your income and household size
Debt forgiveness: after each full monthly payment, 1/24 of your old debt is forgiven
A security deposit waiver, if needed
Referrals and help reducing your electric use
Who qualifies
You must be 18 or older, live in the household and have household income below 150% of the federal poverty guidelines. Duquesne Light's 2026 maximums (gross income, before taxes):
Household size | Monthly | Yearly |
1 | $1,995 | $23,940 |
2 | $2,705 | $32,460 |
3 | $3,415 | $40,980 |
4 | $4,125 | $49,500 |
5 | $4,835 | $58,020 |
6 | $5,545 | $66,540 |
Each additional | $710 | $8,520 |
Duquesne Light says getting a LIHEAP grant indicates you're eligible for CAP, but you'll still need to provide income information.
How the payment works
Your CAP payment is a share of your income, with an annual maximum discount. The minimum monthly payment is $20 for the regular residential rate (RS) and $40 for residential heating (RH). You must pay every month to keep the benefits, including debt forgiveness. If you fall behind, you're responsible for any debt that hasn't been forgiven yet.
To stay in good standing, Duquesne Light says to:
Pay on time each month
Apply for LIHEAP and Dollar Energy Fund grants when they're available
Recertify every 24 months (every 6 months if you reported no income)
Report changes in income, address or household size
Watch your usage. A big jump can trigger a required Smart Comfort visit.
How to apply
Online: Duquesne Light's CAP application. Have names, Social Security numbers, birth dates and proof of income for everyone in the household. A CAP case manager contacts you within three business days.
In person, by appointment only (walk-ins are no longer accepted). Print the CAP application and call an agency:
Catholic Charities, 111 Boulevard of the Allies, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, 412-325-6749
Holy Family Institute, McKees Rocks, 701 Yunker Ave., 412-331-8665
Holy Family Institute, McKeesport, Olympia Shopping Center, 4313 Walnut St., Unit 172, 412-896-4314
Holy Family Institute, Swissvale, 1789 S. Braddock Ave., Suite 585, Pittsburgh, PA 15218, 412-244-8010
Holy Family also has Beaver County offices in Beaver Falls (724-846-6400) and Aliquippa (724-788-1564)
If no one in your home has income, Duquesne Light has a Zero Income Claim Form.
LIHEAP 2026/27: Cash and Crisis Grants
LIHEAP is the state-run federal heating program. Per the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services' 2026/27 fact sheet:
Season: opens Monday, November 2, 2026, and runs through Friday, April 23, 2027.
Cash grants: $200 to $1,000, one per season, based on region, income, heating type and household size. The grant goes to your utility or fuel company.
Crisis grants: $25 up to a season maximum of $1,000, for households without heat or within 15 days of losing it because of a utility shutoff or lack of fuel. You can get several Crisis payments in a season if emergencies repeat, up to that cap.
If you got LIHEAP last season, watch your mail for a 2026/27 application or COMPASS postcard with a registration number that lets you apply early.
How to apply: online at COMPASS (compass.state.pa.us) on or after Nov. 2, through your County Assistance Office, or by calling the LIHEAP Helpline at 1-866-857-7095.
Crisis requests must go through the County Assistance Office. The fact sheet says a crisis payment won't cover a delivery the CAO didn't authorize, so call before you pay out of pocket. If you've already applied for a Cash grant, you usually don't need a separate Crisis application unless you moved or someone new moved in.
Note: the DHS fact sheet we reviewed didn't list 2026/27 income limits. Ask the helpline or check COMPASS.
Dollar Energy Fund Hardship Program
Dollar Energy Fund, based in Pittsburgh, opened its 2026–2027 Hardship Program on October 1. Its announcement says:
It's taking applications from households currently facing a termination or with a pending termination.
Applications are accepted first come, first served through September 30, 2027, while funds last.
Grants go directly to your utility account and cover the amount needed to keep or restore service, up to a cap set by each utility.
Income limits vary by utility. You may also need to show a good-faith effort to pay over the past three months, have an outstanding balance, and apply first for state or federal programs like LIHEAP if you're eligible.
How to apply: online through Dollar Energy Fund's new MyApp Connect platform, which uses one application for all participating utilities, or in person through a community agency found with Dollar Energy Fund's Agency Finder or by referral from Duquesne Light. Bring a copy of your utility bill and proof of income for everyone in the household.
CARES: Help When Hardship Hits
Duquesne Light's Customer Assistance & Referral Evaluation Service (CARES) has no income guidelines. It's for customers in a temporary hardship, such as:
Serious illness or injury
Death of the main wage earner
Loss of income or unemployment benefits
High medical bills
Low-income seniors or single parents, or people receiving SSI or disability
CARES can include a home visit, energy-saving advice and referrals to Dollar Energy Fund, LIHEAP, housing, food, employment counseling and transportation help.
To apply, call 1-888-393-7600 and ask for the CARES agency nearest you. Have each household member's income, names and birth dates, and your monthly expenses ready. You'll be expected to apply for grants you qualify for and follow up with the agencies you're referred to, or you can be dropped from the program.
Your Shutoff Protections
The winter rule (Dec. 1–March 31)
Under 52 Pa. Code § 56.100, from December 1 through March 31, an electric utility like Duquesne Light may not shut off customers with household income at or below 250% of the federal poverty level unless the PUC authorizes it (except in cases like fraud or tampering). The utility is supposed to use income and household size information it has on file, and to ask for that information when you call about a shutoff notice.
For reference, 250% of the 2026 HHS poverty guidelines works out to about $39,900 for one person and $82,500 for a family of four. (That's our calculation; the utility will use its own figures.)
What to do: if you get a shutoff notice this winter, call Duquesne Light and give your household size and income. Don't assume they already have it.
The rule also bars winter shutoffs when the account is in a landlord's name, with limited exceptions.
Medical certificate
If someone in your home is seriously ill or has a condition that would worsen without electricity, a licensed medical professional can certify it. Duquesne Light says a certificate:
Protects your service for up to 30 days; your doctor can submit a new one if more time is needed
Requires you to keep paying current monthly charges or your budget amount
Doesn't erase the past-due balance, which comes due when it expires
Submit it online, through Duquesne Light's document upload center, or by mail to Duquesne Light Company, 100 S. Commons, Suite 118 (CON L1), Pittsburgh, PA 15212.
Best Order to Try
Call 1-888-393-7600 and ask for a payment arrangement plus CAP.
If you have a shutoff notice now, apply to Dollar Energy Fund.
On or after Nov. 2, apply for LIHEAP Cash, and call your CAO for Crisis if you're within 15 days of a shutoff.
Use a medical certificate or the winter rule to buy time while applications are pending.
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Every guide we have for Pittsburgh is listed on our Pittsburgh financial help hub. Related guides for the same area:
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