Pennsylvania Energy Assistance Programs

If you need assistance, or know someone who does, please call our Universal Services Group at 1-800-207-1250. The sooner you call, the more options there are to help you. We can discuss a special payment plans or other payment assistance options. Here are a few:

Consumer Credit Counseling Services (CCCS) serves as liaison between the customer and the customer’s creditors and provides budget counseling, a supervised Debt Management Program, and suspension of penalty and interest charges on debt for customers overburdened with debt.

Customer Assistance and Referral Evaluation Service (CARES) is a special service for selected, payment-trouble customers who cannot pay the full amount of their electric bills due to a temporary hardship such as a serious illness, loss of income, or death of a primary wage earner. CARES is not designed to work with chronically delinquent customers or those with no intention of paying electric bills. CARES Representatives work with customers on a personal basis to help them identify available community resources.

$1 Energy Fund (DEF) administers the program to provide utility bill assistance to low-income customers. Contributions from shareholders, utility employees, and customers are primary sources of funding for these programs. Funds make payments directly to companies on behalf of customers who still have a critical need for assistance after other resources have been exhausted. Allegheny Power matches DEF grants 100%.

Low-Income Payment and Usage Reduction Program (LIPURP) provides:

  • Affordable monthly payments
  • Supplemental grant to help customers keep their monthly bill current. Customers must pay LIPURP payments on time.
  • 2% pre-program arrearage forgiveness when monthly payments are made
  • Referrals for additional assistance

Low-Income Usage Reduction Program (LIURP) provides:

  • Free home weatherization to help reduce energy costs
  • Energy education
  • Referrals for additional weatherization assistance

Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is administered by the Department of Public Welfare to help eligible customers on low or fixed incomes pay their fuel bills through energy assistance grants. Customers do not have to have an unpaid bill or be on public assistance for customers to receive grants.

Social Service Agency List – to find the agency in your area, please call our Universal Services group at 1-800-207-1250.

Bill Extender Plan - If you receive Social Security or federal government pension benefits, our Bill Extender Plan may be right for you. We may be able to adjust the due date of your bill to coincide with the arrival of your monthly check. Call us at 1-800-Allegheny for more information or to sign-up.

Third Party Designation - With this plan, you can designate a friend, neighbor, relative, or social service agency to receive a disconnection notice should you miss your bill payments because you're away or ill. The party you choose has no obligation to pay the bill but can help you make payment arrangements and avoid disconnection. Call us at 1-800-Allegheny for more information or to sign-up.

Protection from Abuse Order (PFA) – A PFA is a civil order from the court that protects you and your minor children from your abuser. A PFA can be requested on your own behalf against a family or household member who is causing the abuse. Under the law, abuse is considered:

  • Bodily injury or rape; criminal charges are not required to be filed
  • Reasonable fear of imminent serious bodily injury
  • Child abuse
  • Stalking
  • Being held against your will

What you need to know. If you have a valid Protection From Abuse Order (PFA), regardless of your income, you will receive the following protections from Allegheny Power.

  • Allegheny Power cannot disconnect your electric service during the winter period without permission from the Public Utility Commission.
  • Electric service may not be disconnected on a Friday.
  • You will receive additional notice prior to termination.
  • If you are required to pay a security deposit, you may be able to pay it in three payments.

Domestic Violence Programs The domestic violence hotline is available 24 hours a day, and all services are free and confidential. For more information, look in the blue pages of your local phone book, or call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) for contact information. Please note: In order to receive the above listed protections concerning your electric service, you will be required to provide Allegheny Power with a copy of your PFA Order. Allegheny Power will not share this information with any third party.