Community Action’s Energy & Utility Assistance program is available to help people pay their bills. Please note that we have moved to the Mount Vernon Community Action office!
We will open appointments for anyone under 60 beginning on November 1, 2024. If you are experiencing a disconnection of service or shut off notice with a shut off date, please contact us at (360) 428-1011 to discuss your options and see if an emergency appointment is available.
Cascade Natural Gas Cares
Cascade Natural Gas (CNG) CARES provides qualifying customers in need of bill payment assistance with a discount on their monthly gas bill, plus help with past due balances, if needed. Program features include:
- Five tiers of discounts with each tier offering a different discount rate based on the customer’s household income and number of residents in their household.
- The arrearage relief component offers qualifying customers with past-due balances to receive arrearage relief assistance of up to $500.
- The amount of assistance for past due balances is based on the customer’s income and household size.
- Assistance levels range from 50%-100% of the past due balance.
- Time Payment arrangements are available for any remaining balances after the arrearage relief grant is applied.
How to Schedule an Appointment for the Cascade Natural Gas CARES Program
Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
If you are experiencing a disconnection of service or shut off notice with a shut off date, please contact us at (360) 428-1011 to discuss your options and see if an emergency appointment is available.
We will re-open LIHEAP scheduling for Senior Appointments (60 Years or older) in September 2024 and general appointment scheduling starting in November 2024.
LIHEAP provides energy assistance to households in Washington through a network of community action agencies and local partners. These local organizations will help determine your eligibility and how much assistance you might receive. If you qualify, your local LIHEAP agency will send a payment directly to your energy utility on behalf of your household.
LIHEAP primarily assists households by making an energy assistance grant directly to the energy provider on behalf of the eligible household. LIHEAP may also help repair or replace an unsafe, dysfunctional, and inoperative heating or cooling system in some situations. Households eligible for LIHEAP may also qualify to have their homes made more energy efficient through the Weatherization Program.
Puget Sound Energy (PSE) Help
PSE’s Home Energy Lifeline Program (HELP)
PSE’s Home Energy Lifeline Program (HELP) provides assistance for residential customers to help pay electric or natural gas bills. If you qualify, they will credit your account for up to $1,000. Begin your application to receive the help you need. Then contact your local Community Agency to complete the HELP application.
How to Schedule an Appointment for the PSE Home Energy Lifeline Program (HELP)
How to Schedule an Appointment
The Energy program currently has an open scheduling process Monday- Friday from 8:30 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. General Public appointments are now open! If you meet the income requirements in the table below, call the Energy Assistance line, send us an email or schedule an appointment online through Puget Sound Energy.
Unsure if you qualify? Call us!
- Schedule an Appointment by Phone
If you are not a Puget Sound Energy customer or have no way of applying online please call the Energy Assistance line at (360) 428-1011 to schedule your appointment. - Schedule an Appointment in Person- we have moved!
Visit our Energy & Utility Assistance team at their office in Mount Vernon to Schedule an appointment. They are located at 330 Pacific Place, Mount Vernon, WA. - Schedule an Appointment in Online
Starting on November 1, we will open LIHEAP appointments for people 60 years old and under.
What Documents are Needed
For you to receive assistance, you need to have ALL the documents below. If you are missing documents, we may need to reschedule your appointment.
- Photo ID – for person coming to appointment
- Social Security Card – For all household members who have a social security number. Undocumented household members may qualify.
- Proof of ALL income received for three (3) months prior to appointment – for ALL household members 18 and over
- Proof of physical address – (Copy of a current bill with address)
- Heating bill (e.g. Puget Sound Energy, Cascade Natural Gas)
- 12 month usage history for Propane or Heating Oil customers only.
Additional Forms
Income Guidelines
Income guidelines are updated for the program year (10/1/2024- 9/30/2025). If your maximum monthly income is less than the income shown below, you may be eligible for assistance. Eligibility changes depending on how many people live in the household. If you have more than 6 people living in your house, please contact our team.
Program Type | 1 person | 2 people | 3 people | 4 people | 5 people | 6 people* |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Customers of any utility company or people who rely on other heat sources such as propane, wood or oil may have a total monthly household income up to this amount, counting all income sources in the home. (LIHEAP program) | $1,883 | $2,555 | $3,228 | $3,900 | $4,573 | $5,245 |
State Energy Assistance Program (Electric only) customers may qualify up to this income level. | $4,254 | $4,862 | $5,470 | $6,075 | $6,562 | $7,050 |
Puget Sound Energy and/ or Cascade Natural Gas customers may qualify up to this income level. | $4,679 | $5,346 | $6,013 | $6,679 | $7,217 | $7,750 |
Warm Home Program customers may qualify up to this income level- only for disconnections. | $4,679 | $5,346 | $6,013 | $6,679 | $7,217 | $7,750 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions / Preguntas
For questions, please call Community Action at (360) 428-1011 or email energy@communityactionskagit.org.
Para preguntas, por favor llame a Community Action a (360) 428-1011 o mándenos un correo electrónico a energy@communityactionskagit.org.
Para preguntas, por favor llame a Community Action a (360) 428-1011 o mándenos un correo electrónico a energy@communityactionskagit.org.