Struggling to Afford Electricity? These Agencies Can Help

Sep 3, 2022 | Good to Know, Industry Happenings

The temperature isn’t the only thing reaching record highs this summer. For many people, their electricity bills have gone up, too — as much as 50% more than last year. And when you factor in inflation, which is at a 40-year high, it’s no wonder people have difficulty paying their monthly expenses.

Fortunately, help is available, and there are many organizations and assistance programs available for Texas families and residents who could use a hand. Hey, we’ve all been there at one time or another, right? If you’re in that position now, check out the organizations below.

Texas Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program (CEAP)

The Comprehensive Home Energy Assistance Program, also known as the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), provides financial assistance for utility costs to low-income and disabled households. There are several eligibility requirements, including being a Texas resident and income levels.

For more information, visit:

Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program (CEAP)

The Power to Care

Entergy’s The Power to Care program was established to help the elderly and disabled community members who are living on low or fixed incomes. It provides relief through emergency bill payment assistance to seniors and disabled individuals.

For more information, visit:

The Power to Care program

Texas Homeowner Assistance Fund

The Homeowners Assistance Fund was established to help our country’s most vulnerable homeowners by ensuring continuity of home electricity service by making payments directly to utility service providers. Texas residents can learn more are the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs.

For more information, visit:

Texas Homeowner Assistance

Texas Utility Help

With funding from the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and the federal Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP), the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs can provide eligible households with financial assistance for utility payments.

For more information, visit:

Texas Utility Help

Baker Ripley Assistance Program

The Baker Ripley Assistance Program helps families and individuals in Brazoria, Galveston, and Harris counties pay their electricity, gas, and water bills. There are several eligibility requirements, including being a resident of one of the three aforementioned counties, having proof of citizenship, and income requirements. 

For more information, visit:

Baker Ripley Utility Assistance Program

Other County-Specific Programs

The Baker Ripley Assistance Program isn’t the only county-specific program out there. In fact, most counties in Texas also have programs available for their residents. Below is a list of potential resources alongside the counties they serve and links to the websites.

 

Aspermont Small Business Development Center, Inc.

Counties: Haskell, Jones, Kent, Knox, Stonewall, and Throckmorton

Bexar County Department of Community Resources

Counties: Bexar

Big Bend Community Action Committee, Inc.

Counties: Brewster, Culberson, Hudspeth, Jeff Davis, and Presidio

Brazos Valley Community Action Agency, Inc.

Counties: Brazos, Burleson, Grimes, Leon, Madison, Montgomery, Robertson, Walker, Waller, and Washington 

Cameron and Willacy Counties Community Projects, Inc.

Counties: Cameron and Willacy

Central Texas Opportunities, Inc.

Counties: Brown, Callahan, Coleman, Comanche, Eastland, McCulloch, and Runnels 

Christian Community Action

Counties: Collin, Dallas, Denton, Tarrant, Wise Argyle, Carrolton, Coppell, Frisco, Lake Dallas, Lewisville, Little Elm, and Northwest School Districts 

City of Fort Worth Community Action Partners

Counties: Tarrant

Combined Community Action, Inc.

Counties: Austin, Bastrop, Colorado, Fayette, and Lee

Community Action Committee of Victoria, TX

Counties: Aransas, Calhoun, DeWitt, Goliad, Gonzales, Jackson, Lavaca, Refugio, and Victoria 

Community Action Corporation of South Texas

Counties: Bee, Brooks, Cameron, Duval, Jim Wells, Kenedy, Kleberg, San Patricio, and Willacy 

Community Action Inc., of Central Texas

Counties: Blanco, Caldwell, and Hays

Community Council of South Central Texas, Inc.

Counties: Atascosa, Bandera, Comal, Dimmit, Edwards, Frio, Gillespie, Guadalupe, Karnes, Kendall, Kerr, Kinney, La Salle, Live Oak, McMullen, Maverick, Medina, Real, Uvalde, Val Verde, Wilson, and Zavala

Community Services Agency of South Texas

Counties: Dimmit, LaSalle, and Maverick

Community Services of Northeast Texas, Inc.

Counties: Bowie, Camp, Cass, Delta, Franklin, Hopkins, Lamar, Marion, Morris, Rains, Red River, and Titus 

Concho Valley Community Action Agency

Counties: Coke, Concho, Crockett, Irion, Kimble, Menard, Reagan, Schleicher, Sterling, Sutton, and Tom Green 

Dallas County Department of Health and Human Services

Counties: Dallas

Economic Action Committee of The Gulf Coast

Counties: Matagorda

Economic Opportunities Advancement Corporation (EOAC)

Counties: Bosque, Ellis, Falls, Freestone, Hill, Limestone, McLennan, and Navarro

El Paso Community Action Program, Project BRAVO, Inc.

Counties: El Paso

Galveston County Community Action Council, Inc.

Counties: Brazoria, Fort Bend, Galveston, and Wharton

Greater East Texas Community Action Program (GETCAP)

Counties: Anderson, Angelina, Chambers, Cherokee, Gregg, Hardin, Henderson, Houston, Jefferson, Kaufman, Liberty, Nacogdoches, Orange, Polk, Rusk, San Jacinto, Smith, Trinity, Van Zandt, and Wood 

Harris County Community Services Department

Counties: Harris

Hidalgo County Community Services Agency

Hidalgo

Hill Country Community Action Association, Inc.

Counties: Bell, Coryell, Hamilton, Lampasas, Llano, Mason, Milam, Mills, and San Saba

Irving Cares

Counties: City of Irving

Kleberg County Human Services

Counties: Kenedy and Kleberg

Lubbock Community Development Department

Counties: Lubbock

Metrocrest Social Services

Counties: Denton County: Carrollton, Addison, Farmers Branch, Coppell, and Dallas zip code 75287 

Nueces County Community Action Agency

Counties: Nueces

Panhandle Community Services

Counties: Armstrong, Brisco, Carson, Castro, Childress, Collingsworth, Dallam, Deaf Smith, Donley, Gray, Hall, Hansford, Hartley, Hemphill, Hutchinson, Lipscomb, Moore, Ochiltree, Oldham, Parmer, Potter, Randall, Roberts, Sherman, Swisher, and Wheeler 

Pecos County Community Action Agency

Counties: Crane, Pecos, and Terrell

Rolling Plains Management Corporation

Counties: Archer, Baylor, Clay, Cottle, Foard, Hardeman, Jack, Montague, Shackelford, Stephens, Taylor, Wichita, Wilbarger, and Young 

South Plains Community Action Association, Inc.

Counties: Bailey, Cochran, Crosby, Dickens, Floyd, Garza, Hale, Hockley, King, Lamb, Lynn, Motley, Terry, and Yoakum 

South Texas Development Council

Counties: Jim Hogg, Starr, and Zapata

Tarrant County Human Services

Counties: Tarrant

Texas Neighborhood Services

Counties: Erath, Hood, Johnson, Palo Pinto, Parker, Somervell, and Wise

Texoma Council of Governments

Counties: Collin, Cooke, Denton, Fannin, Grayson, Hunt, and Rockwall

Travis County Health & Human Services and Veterans Services

Counties: Travis

Tri-County Community Action, Inc.

Counties: Harrison, Jasper, Newton, Panola, Sabine, San Augustine, Shelby, Tyler, and Upshur 

Webb County Community Action Agency

Counties: Webb

West Texas Opportunities, Inc.

Counties: Andrews, Borden, Dawson, Ector, Loving, Reeves, Ward, Winkler, Fisher, Gains, Glasscock, Howard, Martin, Midland, Mitchell, Nolan, Scurry, and Upton Ward 

Williamson-Burnet County Opportunities, Inc.

Counties: Burnet and Williamson

Call 2-1-1

If you need financial assistance with your electricity or utility bill, you can also contact 2-1-1 Texas to receive information about the organizations or services in your area that might be able to help. Dial 2-1-1 from your phone, call 877-541-7905, or visit 211texas.org.

 

Sources: 

  1. https://www.texastribune.org/2022/07/05/texas-energy-bills-natural-gas-export/

Recent Posts