Help with heating and electricity bills
Washington runs two energy assistance programs, and your own utility probably runs more. If you have a shut-off notice, start with the box below rather than with an application.
If you have a shut-off notice
Call your utility company today, before the date on the notice. Ask for a payment arrangement and tell them you are applying for energy assistance. Utilities can often hold a disconnection while an application is pending — but only if they know.
Then call 211 or 1-877-211-9274. Do not wait for an application to finish before speaking to your utility.
The two state programs
LIHEAP is the federally funded Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. SHEAP is Washington's own State Home Energy Assistance Program, which currently reaches qualifying households up to 80% of Area Median Income.
That percentage is deliberately not translated into a dollar figure here. Area Median Income varies by county and by household size, so any single number would be wrong for most of the state. Check the current figure for where you actually live.
Both are administered by local agencies rather than by the state directly, and funds are limited and released in rounds. Applying early in the heating season matters more here than for almost any other program on this site.
Washington Energy Assistance (LIHEAP and SHEAP)
Washington households with limited income who are struggling with heating and electricity bills.
What it can help with
- Help paying home heating and energy bills
- In some cases, help with an overdue balance or a shut-off notice
- Two programs run alongside each other: LIHEAP is federally funded, SHEAP is the state program.
- Funds are limited and released in rounds. Applying early in the season matters more than for most programs.
- Applications are handled by local agencies, not by the state directly.
Official source: Washington State Department of Commerce · Last reviewed 2026-09-08
Clark Public Utilities Senior Citizen Rate Credit
Clark County residents 62 or older with limited income.
What it can help with
- A credit against qualifying winter electricity bills
Eligibility limits change periodically. Please verify the current limits with the program before applying.
- Baseline from resource-center brief, 2026-08-30. Not yet verified.
- Clark Public Utilities also runs Operation Warm Heart, limited-income weatherization and income-qualified rebates.
Official source: Clark Public Utilities · Last reviewed 2026-08-30
Washington 211
Anyone who is not sure which program they need.
What it can help with
- Referrals for food, housing, utilities, health care, elder care, transportation and more
Official source: Washington 211 · Last reviewed 2026-08-30
Ask your own utility what it runs
This is the step people skip. Utilities run their own assistance beyond the state programs — hardship funds, discounted rates, budget billing that evens out winter spikes, and weatherization that lowers the bill permanently rather than paying it once.
In Clark County, Clark Public Utilities runs a senior rate credit alongside Operation Warm Heart, limited-income weatherization and income-qualified rebates. Elsewhere in Washington your utility will have its own equivalents.
Call the number on your bill and ask, plainly: “What assistance programs do you have?” It costs one phone call and people are regularly surprised.
Weatherization is worth asking about separately
Paying a bill helps once. Insulation, sealing and heating repairs lower every bill after that. Limited-income weatherization programs exist in Washington and are chronically under-applied for, partly because people assume they are only for homeowners or only for emergencies.
Questions people actually ask
I have a shut-off notice. What do I do right now?
Call your utility company first, today, before the date on the notice. Ask about a payment arrangement and tell them you are applying for energy assistance — utilities can often hold a disconnection while an application is pending. Then call 211. Do not wait for the assistance application to finish before speaking to the utility.
Can I get help if I rent?
Yes. Renters who pay a heating bill can qualify. In some situations help is available even when heat is included in the rent. Ask rather than assuming it is only for homeowners.
Do I have to be behind on the bill?
No. You do not have to be in crisis or in arrears to apply. Applying before you fall behind is easier on everyone, including you.
How often can I get help?
Generally once per season, though rules vary by agency and by which program you qualify for. Funds are limited and released in rounds, so applying early in the heating season genuinely matters here more than it does for most programs.
Does using this affect my other benefits?
Energy assistance does not reduce your Social Security, Medicare or Apple Health. Paying a utility bill through one of these programs does not count against you elsewhere.
Official sources
- Washington Department of Commerce — energy assistance
- Washington 211
- Clark Public Utilities — assistance programs
Related
- Basic Food: help paying for groceries
- Help paying your Part B premium in Washington
- What help should I check?
If the bills are adding up
Utility help is one piece. If the Medicare side is also a strain, there may be programs covering your Part B premium and your prescriptions. Tim can walk through where to start.
Talk With Tim About Medicare: (360) 472-4261This line is recorded, as Medicare requires for plan conversations.
Last reviewed September 2026. American Senior Choices does not determine eligibility for government assistance programs. Eligibility is determined by the appropriate agency or utility. Program rules, income limits and funding availability can change.
Disclaimer: American Senior Choices is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program. We do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 5 organizations which offer 33 products in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.