Virginia Beach Utility Bill Help 2026–27: Dominion Energy, HRSD and City Water, From Fuel Assistance to H2O
Updated: 6 hours ago
If you live in Virginia Beach and are behind on your bills, you may be juggling up to three utilities: Dominion Energy for electricity, HRSD (Hampton Roads Sanitation District) for wastewater, and Virginia Beach Public Utilities for water and sewer on your City Services Bill. Each has a different path to help, and some of the most useful programs have short application windows.
The most time-sensitive one right now: Virginia's Fuel Assistance application window opened the second Tuesday of October and closes the second Friday of November. For 2026, that means applying by Friday, November 13.
This guide is based on the Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS), Dominion Energy's EnergyShare brochure, the Salvation Army Hampton Roads Area Command and the City of Virginia Beach. Program funds are limited, so apply early.
Quick Map: Which Program Fits Your Bill
Dominion electric bill, low income: PIPP (caps your bill at a share of income) and Virginia Energy Assistance.
Dominion bill, any income, in crisis: EnergyShare.
HRSD or Virginia Beach Public Utilities water/sewer bill: the H2O (Help to Others) program.
Gas bill with Virginia Natural Gas: Salvation Army VNG assistance.
Not sure: dial 2-1-1.
Step 1: Apply for Virginia Energy Assistance
VDSS's Energy Assistance Program helps eligible households pay heating and cooling bills and handle energy emergencies. To qualify for Fuel, Crisis or Cooling Assistance, VDSS says you must have a heating or cooling expense and a gross monthly income at or below 150% of the federal poverty level.
Fuel Assistance offsets home heating costs for households responsible for heating bills.
Window: second Tuesday of October through the second Friday of November.
Notices: VDSS says eligibility notices go out in late December.
Crisis Assistance helps with heating emergencies such as no heat, a cut-off notice or unsafe equipment.
Windows: November 1 to March 15 for equipment and security deposits; January to March 15 for fuel and utility bills.
What it can cover: heating equipment repair or replacement, supplemental equipment, fuel, primary heat utility bills or security deposits.
Cooling Assistance runs June 15 to August 17. The household must pay cooling costs and include a vulnerable person: someone 60 or older, someone living with a disability, or a child under 6.
How to apply: online through CommonHelp, by phone at 855-635-4370, or with a paper application.
Step 2: Ask About PIPP for Your Dominion Bill
Virginia's Percentage of Income Payment Program (PIPP) limits how much of your income goes to your electric bill. VDSS says you may qualify if:
you are a Dominion Energy (or Appalachian Power) customer,
your household income is at or below 150% of the federal poverty level, and
you have an active electric account.
How much you pay: your bill is capped at 10% of gross monthly household income if electricity is your main heat source, or 6% if you heat another way.
Your old balance: pay your reduced bill in full and on time each month, and 1/12 of your old balance is forgiven each month. After 12 months of on-time payments, VDSS says your past-due balance is gone.
Documents: proof of income for the last 30 days for every adult in the household, your current electric bill, Social Security numbers for all household members and anything else your local Department of Social Services requests.
Apply online through CommonHelp or with a paper application to your local Department of Social Services.
Staying in: VDSS says you must re-verify your income each year, report changes in income or household size and stay current. Missing payments, making partial payments or failing to re-verify may get you removed.
Step 3: EnergyShare for a Dominion Crisis
EnergyShare is Dominion Energy's year-round energy assistance program. Dominion's brochure calls it a last-resort program and says it is not income based: the key test is that your household is in crisis. You apply through a local EnergyShare agency, and 2-1-1 can give you a referral.
In Virginia Beach, the Salvation Army Hampton Roads Area Command handles EnergyShare for Norfolk, Virginia Beach and Chesapeake. It says EnergyShare funds can be used to:
stop a Dominion electric disconnection,
reconnect service, or
pay toward payment plan installments.
There are limited exceptions to those rules for seniors 60 and older or customers with an active medical form on file with Dominion. The Salvation Army says clients can use EnergyShare twice per year: once in the cooling season (June 1 to October 1) and once in the heating season (November 1 to May 31).
Step 4: Water and Wastewater: the H2O Program
Your water and wastewater charges come from Virginia Beach Public Utilities and HRSD. The main local help for both is H2O (Help to Others).
The Salvation Army Hampton Roads Area Command runs H2O for Virginia Beach. It works like this:
What it pays: HRSD/HRUBS and Virginia Beach Public Utility bills.
Who: families in crisis in Norfolk, Virginia Beach and Chesapeake.
How often: once every 365 days.
How to apply: call the Housing Resource Center at 757-587-4202 for a referral. The Salvation Army says all applicants must go through this step, and if you qualify, the center refers you to its office. Have your bill information ready before you call.
Step 5: Call Virginia Beach Public Utilities
For questions about your City Services Bill, call Virginia Beach Public Utilities Customer Service at 757-385-4631 (2403 Courthouse Drive; Virginia Relay TTY 711). The city's payment assistance page also points residents to 2-1-1, where a trained professional will listen to your situation and suggest resources.
A few billing tools that can help you stay on track:
The city's Invoice Cloud portal lets you schedule one-time or recurring payments, including on the same day each month.
You can sign up for a real-time e-mail if water service is ever disconnected for nonpayment.
Fees: paying by bank transfer (ACH) is free if you're enrolled in paperless billing or autopay. Otherwise ACH costs $1.75. A credit or debit card costs $3.50. If money is tight, the free ACH option saves a few dollars every month.
Step 6: Gas Bills and Rent
If you have Virginia Natural Gas, the Salvation Army says its VNG funds can stop a disconnection, reconnect service or pay toward payment plan installments for families in crisis in Norfolk, Virginia Beach and Chesapeake, once per year.
If the utility crisis is part of a bigger rent problem, the Salvation Army's rental program can pay one month's rent to stop an eviction, or the first month's rent when moving in. Clients can apply once every two years (730 days). Every Salvation Army program starts with the same call: 757-587-4202. All programs are offered as funding and scheduling permit.
Virginia Beach Utility Help Checklist
Apply for Fuel Assistance by November 13, 2026 (CommonHelp or 855-635-4370).
If you have a cut-off notice, look at Crisis Assistance and EnergyShare.
Ask your local Department of Social Services about PIPP if your income is at or below 150% FPL.
For HRSD or city water bills, call 757-587-4202 for an H2O referral.
Have your account numbers and bills in hand before every call.
Call Public Utilities at 757-385-4631 with billing questions.
Dial 2-1-1 if you're not sure where to start.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is EnergyShare only for low-income households? No. Dominion's brochure says EnergyShare is not income based. You must be in crisis.
Does PIPP erase my old Dominion balance? VDSS says each on-time, full monthly payment forgives 1/12 of your old balance, and after 12 months it's gone.
Can H2O pay both my HRSD and city water charges? The Salvation Army says H2O pays HRSD/HRUBS and Virginia Beach Public Utility bills.
I live in Chesapeake ZIP code 23321 or 23323. Where do I go? The Salvation Army says those ZIP codes go to its Portsmouth office for Dominion help (757-393-2519).
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More help in Virginia Beach
Every guide we have for Virginia Beach is listed on our Virginia Beach financial help hub. Related guides for the same area:
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