Richmond Dominion Energy Bill Help 2026–27: Fuel Assistance Is Open Now, Plus PIPP and EnergyShare
Updated: 7 hours ago
If you live in Richmond and your Dominion Energy bill is behind, timing matters right now. Virginia's Fuel Assistance application window opened on the second Tuesday of October, October 13, 2026, and closes on the second Friday of November, November 13, 2026. Miss it and the next state help for heating bills is Crisis Assistance, which opens later and covers only emergencies.
This guide lays out every Dominion-related option we could verify. It's organized by calendar, so you know what to do this month, this winter and next summer.
Last reviewed: October 2026. How we research and correct guides like this one is explained in our Editorial Standards.
Dominion's assistance brochures we found were older printings, so confirm program details with Dominion before you rely on them.
Right Now (October 13 – November 13, 2026): Apply for Fuel Assistance
What it is: a VDSS Energy Assistance Program benefit that helps pay home heating costs for households responsible for heating bills. It covers any heat source, not only electric.
Who qualifies: VDSS says households must have a heating or cooling expense and gross monthly income at or below 150% of the federal poverty level.
How to apply:
Online through CommonHelp (commonhelp.virginia.gov)
By phone at 855-635-4370
On a paper application from VDSS, turned in to your local department of social services. In Richmond, that's Richmond City DSS.
When you'll hear back: VDSS says eligibility notices go out in late December. Don't wait for that notice before talking to Dominion about a past-due bill.
Also Right Now: Ask Dominion for More Time
Dominion's Virginia energy assistance brochure asks customers who fall behind to call right away, because calling early can give you more options before service is turned off. The billing options it lists are:
Short-term payment extension: more time to pay the current electric bill.
Long-term payment plan: splits your past-due balance into equal payments over up to six months, while you also pay each new bill.
Budget billing: spreads the past-due balance into equal amounts added to your current bill for a set number of months.
Third-party notification: lets you name a relative, friend or other trusted person who gets notified before service is cut off for nonpayment. This is worth setting up for an older parent or anyone who might miss mail.
Dominion's customer service number for Virginia, as printed on its brochures, is 1-866-366-4357.
Any Time of Year: PIPP, the Percentage of Income Payment Program
PIPP is the biggest long-term help for Dominion customers with low incomes. It is run through VDSS. Here's how VDSS describes it:
Your bill is capped at a share of your income:
10% of gross monthly household income if electricity is your main heat source
6% if you heat with something else, such as gas
Old balances are forgiven over time:
Pay your reduced bill in full and on time each month, and 1/12 of your old past-due balance is forgiven.
After 12 months of on-time payments, the past-due balance is gone.
Who can apply:
Dominion Energy or Appalachian Power customers
Household income at or below 150% of the federal poverty level
An active electric account
What to have ready:
Proof of income for the last 30 days for every adult over 18 in the household
Your current electric bill
Social Security numbers for all household members
Anything else your local DSS asks for
How to apply: online through CommonHelp, or with a paper application at your local department of social services.
How you can lose it: VDSS says missed payments, partial payments, or not re-verifying income each year can get you removed. You must also report changes in income or household size. A caseworker's advice: if your income drops, report it. Your PIPP amount is tied to income, so reporting a drop can help you.
Winter Emergencies: Crisis Assistance
What it is: VDSS help for heating emergencies, such as no heat, a cut-off notice, or unsafe heating equipment.
Windows, per VDSS:
November 1 – March 15: heating equipment repair or replacement, supplemental equipment, and security deposits
January – March 15: fuel and primary-heat utility bills
How to apply: CommonHelp, 855-635-4370, or a paper Crisis Assistance application.
So if you get a Dominion disconnect notice in early December, the crisis bill help may not open until January. That's another reason to apply for Fuel Assistance now and set up a Dominion payment arrangement.
Year-Round, Last Resort: EnergyShare
EnergyShare is Dominion's own assistance fund, paid for by Dominion and donations from customers, employees and business partners. Dominion's brochures describe it as help for anyone facing financial hardship, applying to any heating or cooling source within Dominion's service area. Local agencies handle the applications.
How to apply: call 2-1-1 or search 211virginia.org for "EnergyShare" to be referred to a local EnergyShare agency.
EnergyShare money is limited. Expect the agency to ask whether you've already applied for state Fuel or Crisis Assistance.
EnergyShare weatherization
Dominion's EnergyShare brochure says customers approved for EnergyShare bill payment are also eligible for free weatherization, for renters as well as homeowners. That can include LED bulbs, efficient showerheads, pipe insulation, attic insulation and air sealing, and heat pump or A/C tune-ups. The brochure says to call Dominion at 1-888-366-8280 for a referral to a local provider.
Next Summer (June 15 – August 17): Cooling Assistance
VDSS Cooling Assistance can help with electric bills or deposits, window A/C purchase and installation, or repairs to central A/C or heat pumps. It has an extra requirement: the household must pay cooling costs and include a vulnerable person, meaning someone 60 or older, someone living with a disability, or a child under 6. The 2026 window ran June 15 – August 17. Watch for 2027 dates.
A One-Page Plan for This Week
Apply for Fuel Assistance on CommonHelp or at 855-635-4370 before November 13.
Apply for PIPP at the same time if your income is at or below 150% of poverty.
Call Dominion at 1-866-366-4357 about a payment extension or long-term plan, and set up third-party notification if it would help.
If a disconnection is close, call 2-1-1 for an EnergyShare referral.
Keep a folder with your confirmation numbers, the last 30 days of pay stubs, and your latest bill.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the deadline for Virginia Fuel Assistance this year?
VDSS lists the window as the second Tuesday of October through the second Friday of November. For 2026, that's October 13 through November 13.
What is the income limit for PIPP and energy assistance?
Both use 150% of the federal poverty level. VDSS posts PIPP's monthly income table by household size. The current table is in effect June 1 – December 31, 2026.
How does PIPP get rid of my past-due balance?
Each month you pay your PIPP bill in full and on time, 1/12 of the old balance is forgiven. After 12 on-time months, it's gone.
Is EnergyShare only for low-income households?
Dominion describes EnergyShare as help for anyone facing financial hardship. Local agencies screen applications, and funds are limited.
Can I get help with a Dominion bill in December?
Crisis Assistance for equipment and deposits opens November 1. Help with crisis bills opens in January. In December, talk to Dominion about a payment plan and call 2-1-1 about EnergyShare.
Do I have to heat with electricity to get Fuel Assistance?
No. It helps with home heating costs for any heat source you pay for.
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