Connecticut energy assistance
Utility Bill Help & Energy Assistance in Connecticut
If you’re an Eversource or United Illuminating customer facing energy-bill challenges, know that assistance is available — and you’re not alone. This page brings together the programs and resources that help Connecticut residents lower what they owe and keep bills down for good.
We’re a navigator — we help you find and apply for the assistance you qualify for, then book your home energy audit.
Two ways to get relief
Don't make the most common mistake
Most families stop at one — do both, and it could be free
Most people sort out the bills they owe and stop there. Do both — it could be free.
- 1Get help with your current bills. Use our tools to find the assistance that covers what you owe — CEAP through your local Community Action Agency, GPCT (formerly Operation Fuel), and utility hardship programs.
- 2Sign up for HES-IE. The income-eligible program that fixes the root cause — no-cost weatherization and diagnostics. If you qualify for assistance, you’re probably eligible for HES-IE.
Energize Connecticut — programs funded by a charge on customer energy bills
Here’s how to get help now — and stop it from happening again.
Step 1
Find help with your energy bill
Behind on your energy bill? Our tools point you to the programs that can cover what you owe — the Connecticut Energy Assistance Program, administered by your regional Community Action Agency, plus GPCT and utility hardship programs — and how to reach each one.
- CEAP
- GPCT
- Utility hardship
- Find the programs you qualify for
- See what each one covers
- Get the contacts to apply
Step 2
Qualify for HES-IE
A Community Outreach Representative comes to your home, walks you through the benefits you qualify for, fills out the application forms with you, and gathers the documents you need — then schedules your audit. Many CORs are past HCP customers from your own community who have been where you are.
- In-home visit
- Paperwork done with you
- HES-IE
- Application forms completed
- Documents collected
- Eligibility confirmed
- Audit scheduled
Step 3
Get your home energy audit
Once you’re qualified, we schedule your Home Energy Solutions audit — full diagnostics, on-the-spot weatherization, and a personalized savings plan. No-cost for income-eligible households, $40 otherwise.
- Diagnostics
- On-the-spot weatherization
- Savings plan
- Blower-door + thermal diagnostics
- Immediate air-sealing & basics
- Your custom savings plan
Step 4
Lower your bills for good
Insulation, air sealing, and efficiency upgrades — made affordable by rebates — lower the average Connecticut home’s heating costs by hundreds of dollars a season. Those savings come back year after year.
- Insulation
- Air sealing
- Efficiency upgrades
- Made affordable by rebates
- Lower bills, season after season
See it in action
Watch how it works
What happens during a Home Energy Solutions visit — and what the program meant for one Connecticut family.
Inside a Home Energy Solutions visit — what the energy audit covers, from Energize Connecticut.
A Connecticut family’s story — an Eversource home energy assessment testimonial.
Find your regional agency
Connecticut’s 9 Community Action Agencies
The Connecticut Energy Assistance Program (CEAP) is federally funded, and 9 Community Action Agencies (CAAs) administer it across the state. Find the agency that serves your town — or use the map below.
Greater Willimantic & Greater Danielson
Access Community Action Agency
A federal- and state-designated non-profit Community Action Agency serving the low-income population of eastern Connecticut. Residents of Windham and Tolland counties can reach out to Access for energy assistance in the Greater Willimantic and Greater Danielson areas.
Towns served
Suffield, Andover, Bolton, Columbia, Coventry, Ellington, Hebron, Mansfield, Somers, Stafford, Tolland, Union, Vernon, Willington, Ashford, Brooklyn, Canterbury, Chaplin, Eastford, Hampton, Killingly, Plainfield, Pomfret, Putnam, Scotland, Sterling, Thompson, Windham, and Woodstock.
Greater Bridgeport & Greater Norwalk
Alliance for Community Empowerment (ABCD)
For families in the Greater Bridgeport and Greater Norwalk regions, Alliance offers utility bill-forgiveness plans, a set of support services, and a team of expert case workers to fulfill your needs.
Towns served
Bridgeport, Easton, Fairfield, Monroe, Norwalk, Stratford, Trumbull, and Westport.
Greater Danbury & Greater Stamford
CAAWC
The Community Action Agency of Western Connecticut administers energy assistance across the Danbury and Stamford regions.
Towns served
Bethel, Brookfield, Danbury, Darien, Greenwich, New Canaan, New Fairfield, Newtown, Redding, Ridgefield, Sherman, Stamford, Weston, Wilton, Bridgewater, Canaan, Cornwall, Kent, New Milford, North Canaan, Roxbury, Salisbury, Sharon, Warren, and Washington.
Greater New Haven
CAANH
The Community Action Agency of New Haven operates the CT Energy Assistance Program, providing heating assistance to eligible households. It helps with all heating sources — natural gas, electric, and deliverable fuels such as oil, propane, kerosene, wood/wood pellets, and coal.
Towns served
East Haven, Hamden, New Haven, North Haven, and West Haven.
Greater Hartford & Greater Middletown
Community Renewal Team (CRT)
CRT is the designated Community Action Agency for both Hartford and Middlesex counties and may be able to assist you with your home-heating costs. CRT can help you complete energy assistance application forms — by phone, email, or in person at their multi-service centers in Hartford and Middletown.
Towns served
Avon, Bloomfield, Canton, East Granby, East Hartford, East Windsor, Enfield, Glastonbury, Granby, Hartford, Manchester, Marlborough, Newington, Rocky Hill, Simsbury, South Windsor, West Hartford, Wethersfield, Windsor, Windsor Locks, Chester, Clinton, Cromwell, Deep River, Durham, East Haddam, East Hampton, Essex, Haddam, Killingworth, Middlefield, Middletown, Old Saybrook, Portland, Westbrook, Branford, Guilford, Madison, and North Branford.
New Britain – Bristol
Human Resources Agency (HRA) of New Britain
HRA of New Britain has kept low-income households warm and safe during the winter months since 1979. They can help with both vendor mediation and funding to help pay bills, serving greater New Britain, Bristol, and surrounding towns.
Towns served
Bristol, Burlington, Farmington, New Britain, Plainville, and Plymouth.
Greater Waterbury, Meriden & Torrington
New Opportunities Inc.
New Opportunities Inc. is the Community Action Agency serving central and northwestern Connecticut. Those who meet certain income-eligibility and geographic requirements may obtain help with their energy costs through one or more of the energy assistance programs administered by New Opportunities.
Towns served
Berlin, Hartland, Southington, Barkhamsted, Bethlehem, Colebrook, Goshen, Harwinton, Litchfield, Morris, New Hartford, Norfolk, Thomaston, Torrington, Watertown, Winchester, Woodbury, Cheshire, Meriden, Middlebury, Naugatuck, Prospect, Southbury, Wallingford, Waterbury, and Wolcott.
Derby – Milford
TEAM Inc.
TEAM is the state- and federally-designated anti-poverty agency serving southwest/central Connecticut around the Naugatuck River Valley. Through an intake and assessment process, Energy Assistance staff determine how TEAM and its services can best help lower your energy costs.
Towns served
Shelton, Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Bethany, Derby, Milford, Orange, Oxford, Seymour, and Woodbridge.
Norwich – New London
TVCCA
Thames Valley Council for Community Action provides services to low-income and vulnerable households in eastern Connecticut. Their service area encompasses all of New London County.
Towns served
Bozrah, Colchester, East Lyme, Franklin, Griswold, Groton, Lebanon, Ledyard, Lisbon, Lyme, Montville, New London, North Stonington, Norwich, Old Lyme, Preston, Salem, Sprague, Stonington, Voluntown, and Waterford.
Income eligibility
Do you qualify by income?
You can qualify either by receiving certain state benefits — SSI, TANF, SAGA, WIC, or SNAP automatically qualify you — or based on income. To qualify by income, your household income must be at or below 60% of the State Median Income (SMI).
| Family size | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Income at or below | $41,553 | $54,338 | $67,124 | $79,910 | $92,695 | $105,481 | $107,878 | $110,275 |
Guidelines shown are the 2023–2024 CEAP figures. Income thresholds are updated each program year — confirm current limits with your local Community Action Agency.
What you’ll need to apply
- If you receive state benefits: documentation of those public benefits.
- If qualifying by income: proof of 4 weeks of any income within the last 3 months, a current utility bill, household IDs, and Social Security numbers.
Eversource & United Illuminating
Utility bill-help programs
Beyond CEAP and GPCT, your utility offers hardship protections and credits. Here are the ones to ask about.
Winter Protection Plan
If you meet income criteria or receive certain benefits and can’t pay your gas or electric bill, you may qualify for shutoff protection from November 1 through May 1 — with no late-payment charges. Renews annually, starting in October.
Medical Protection
If anyone in your home is seriously ill or in a life-threatening situation, you may be eligible for medical protection status to prevent shutoff. Extends to households facing hardship with a recently hospitalized child 24 months or under.
Matching Payment Program
For qualified Eversource and UI customers receiving CEAP: for every dollar you pay toward your bill, a matching credit is applied to your past-due balance — down to zero.
Low-Income Discount Rate (LIDR)
Available to residential electric customers of Eversource and UI facing hardship. Depending on income or receipt of a public-assistance benefit, you may qualify for a 10% or 50% discount on your monthly electric bill.
GPCT — statewide emergency assistance
GPCT provides year-round emergency energy assistance for low-to-moderate-income households across Connecticut, plus funding to repair or replace older furnaces, boilers, and water heaters, and water-assistance grants.
Get help from GPCT →Find energy assistance across Connecticut
Click any town on the map or search the list to find local organizations that help Connecticut households with heating bills, weatherization, and energy costs.
Common questions
Qualifying & applying for energy assistance
How do I qualify for energy assistance in Connecticut?
You can qualify either by receiving certain state benefits or based on your income. If you receive SSI (Supplemental Security Income), TANF, SAGA, WIC, or SNAP, you automatically qualify. Even without state benefits, your income level may still make you eligible.
What documentation do I need?
If you receive state benefits, bring documentation of those public benefits. If you’re qualifying by income, you’ll need proof of 4 weeks of any income within the last 3 months, a current utility bill, household IDs, and Social Security numbers. Contact your local Community Action Agency to begin.
Where do I apply?
Apply by contacting your local Community Action Agency (CAA). They guide you through the application and help you gather documentation. Use the directory and map above to find the CAA that serves your town.
How can I lower my utility bills?
Sign up for Home Energy Solutions – Income Eligible (HES-IE). You’ll get expert diagnostics, upgrade recommendations, and weatherization — on average, participants receive about $1,000 in services and realize $70–$100 in savings on their annual energy bills — and that doesn’t include the subsequent rebates and upgrades. For income-eligible families, the visit is completely free.
What do I do if my service is off or discontinued?
Reach out to your local Community Action Agency (find it on the map) for help. It’s also suggested you make a payment to your utility company and make sure you’re enrolled in their hardship program so you’re protected during the winter months (November–May). Use the map to locate your CAA and call them now.
How can I protect myself from gas or electric shutoff in winter?
Both UI and Eversource offer a Winter Protection Plan. If you meet income criteria or receive certain benefits and lack the resources to pay, you may qualify for shutoff protection from November 1 through May 1, with no late-payment charges. This requires annual renewal, starting in October.
What is GPCT?
GPCT provides emergency energy-bill assistance to lower- and middle-income working families, the elderly, people with disabilities, and others in a financial crisis — such as a job loss or medical emergency. It targets those who have exhausted federal benefits and helps prevent utility or heating shutoff. Learn more at gpct.org.
Get help with your heating bills
Find the assistance you qualify for and book your free or $40 home energy audit — we'll walk you through both.