Utility Hardship Funds 2026–27: Holiday Bill Help Straight From Your Power Company
When people fall behind on a power or gas bill, they usually think of LIHEAP first. But many large utilities also run their own hardship funds. The money comes from customer donations, employees and the company itself, and local charities such as The Salvation Army or community action agencies hand it out.
These funds often have looser income rules than government programs, and some move faster. Many open or refill in the fall, right when heating bills and holiday costs land in the same month.
This guide explains how these funds work, shows real examples from major utilities, and gives you a simple script for finding the one that serves you.
How Utility Hardship Funds Work
Most utility hardship funds follow the same pattern:
The utility collects the money through round-up donations on bills, and often adds a company match.
A partner agency decides who gets help. That might be The Salvation Army, United Way, 211 or a community action agency, which screens applicants.
Payment goes straight to the utility, never to you.
It's usually once a year and capped, often at a few hundred dollars.
A crisis is required. Most funds want a past-due balance, a disconnection notice or a reconnection need.
First come, first served. When a fund runs dry, it's done until it's refilled. Apply early in the season.
Real Examples: What Major Utility Funds Pay
The details below come from each utility's or partner's own page. Always confirm current rules before you apply.
Dominion Energy EnergyShare (Virginia)
Pays: up to $600 for heating help from October 1 to May 31, and up to $300 for cooling from June 1 to September 30.
Who qualifies: customers in Dominion's service area who have a disconnection notice, need service reconnected, need help keeping up a payment plan, or got a Budget Billing removal notice. Dominion says help is available regardless of income. Customers 60 and older may get help more often.
Extra help: veterans and people with disabilities enrolled in approved voucher programs may qualify for an extra $500.
Apply: call 2-1-1 or visit 211virginia.org to find your local EnergyShare agency.
PG&E REACH (Northern and Central California)
Pays: a one-time credit of up to $800 toward the past-due part of your bill.
Who qualifies: the main customer on the account who has a 15-day or 48-hour disconnection notice and household income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level. You can get REACH once per calendar year. Customers enrolled in PG&E's Arrearage Management Plan aren't eligible.
Apply: online through Dollar Energy Fund, which processes REACH for PG&E. PG&E says it added $50 million in 2026 to extend REACH and its Match My Payment program.
Georgia Power and Project SHARE (Georgia)
Pays: up to $500 per household in a 12-month period, sent directly to the vendor. Deposits aren't covered.
Who qualifies: households facing a temporary crisis that threatens utility service or housing. The Salvation Army also wants applicants who rarely need outside help and are contributing what they can.
Apply: by appointment at the SHARE partner agency in your county. Bring proof of identity and residence. Georgia Power says Project SHARE helped more than 16,000 Georgians in 2025.
Duke Energy Share the Light Fund (Carolinas, Florida, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio)
Pays: amounts vary by state and agency.
Who qualifies: Duke residential customers who have a past-due balance, an unpaid deposit or an unpaid reconnection charge.
Apply: through local agencies. Use Duke's online Payment Assistance Finder to locate yours. In southwest Ohio, The Salvation Army runs the fund; see our Cincinnati guide for details.
Atmos Energy Sharing the Warmth (Texas and other Atmos states)
Pays: amounts vary, and each local agency sets its own rules. Atmos says the fund gave more than $4.9 million in 2025.
Apply: through local agencies. In the Dallas area, that's Catholic Charities Dallas. For a no-fee installment plan while you wait, call Atmos at 888-286-6700.
Texas Retail Electric Funds
TXU Energy Aid: call 2-1-1 or visit 211texas.org.
Reliant CARE: handed out by local agencies. Reliant warns that help can take up to eight weeks.
Our Houston and Dallas guides list the local agencies and phone numbers.
Puget Sound Energy HELP (Washington)
Pays: a grant of $250 to $1,000 a year.
Timing: the new program year began October 1, 2026.
Apply: at pse.com or through a local agency.
How to Find Your Utility's Hardship Fund in 10 Minutes
Look at your bill. Find the round-up or donation line, which often names the fund (Share the Light, EnergyShare, Project SHARE and so on).
Search your utility's site for "bill assistance," "payment assistance" or "hardship fund."
Call the customer service number on your bill and say: "I'm behind and I'd like to apply for your hardship fund. Which agency handles it in my county? Can you put a hold on my account while I apply?"
Call 2-1-1 if the utility can't tell you. 211 agents know which local agencies hold utility-fund money.
Gather your documents: a recent bill or shutoff notice, photo ID, and proof of income for the past 30 days. Most agencies ask for these.
Stack It With Other Help
A hardship fund rarely covers everything. Combine it with:
A payment plan. Ask for one before the due date. Many utilities will hold off on disconnection once an agency promises payment.
LIHEAP. Most states open regular applications between October and December.
Discount programs. Ongoing discounts, like PSE's Bill Discount Rate or Con Edison's income-based EEAP, lower future bills.
State winter protections. Many states limit shutoffs in cold weather or over the holidays. Our city guides explain the rules in Ohio, Texas, Washington and New York.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Fund amounts, dates and rules change, and money runs out, so confirm with the agency before you rely on it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to be low-income to get a utility hardship fund?
Not always. Dominion's EnergyShare says help is available regardless of income, and many funds judge by crisis rather than strict income limits. Others, like PG&E REACH, cap income at 200% of the poverty level.
Can I get a hardship fund and LIHEAP in the same winter?
Usually, yes. Many agencies run both, and combining them is common. Each program has its own once-a-year limit.
Will a hardship fund pay a deposit or reconnection fee?
It depends on the fund. Duke's Share the Light covers unpaid deposits and reconnection charges. Project SHARE does not pay deposits.
Related Guides
Need help asking your landlord or utility for more time? Our $9 Behind on Rent Action Kit has fill-in letters and checklists. Free help is always available at 211.
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