If you're an Eversource or United Illuminating customer facing energy bill challenges, know that assistance is available. Rest assured, you're not alone in this.
This page consolidates the various programs and energy assistance resources for Connecticut residents.
Having difficulty paying your utility bill? Here's what you can do today!
AVOID THIS COMMON MISTAKE: choosing to only sort out unpaid utility bills, without preventing future high energy costs. Do both! It could be FREE!
Step 1: Check your HES-IE Eligibility
This will stop the energy bills from piling up!
"Home Energy Solutions-Income Eligible" or "HES-IE " for short, is free-of-charge for income eligible applicants and provides free-of-charge weatherization services, expert diagnostics, upgrade recommendations. If you're eligible for energy assistance, you're probably eligible for HES-IE. It's fast and free-of-charge and addresses one of the root causes of high energy bills. Though HES-IE is not required to get energy assistance, it is a valuable program that any household struggling with energy bills should consider.
Step 2: Get Free Energy Assistance
This will help you pay your current utility bills!
The Connecticut Energy Assistance Program, or "CEAP", is government funded energy assistance in CT. Use our map to find the agency that administer CEAP in your area as well as contact and application information. Additionally, Operation Fuel is a vital resource for Connecticut households struggling with their utility bills. Finally, you may be able to benefit from programs from your utility. Learn more about Matching Payment Program, Bill Forgiveness Program, Winter Protection Program and more below.
Learn How HES-IE Can DeliverFor Your Family
This touching story shows you the real benefits weatherization programs such as HES-IE can have on a household in need.
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Energy Assistance Resource Map
The Connecticut Energy Assistance Program (CEAP) is federally funded and 9 Community Action Agencies (CAAs) are designated to administer the CEAP program for different regions. The agency that serves your town can be located on map below.
Qualifying & Applying for Energy Assistance
You can qualify for energy assistance in Connecticut either by receiving certain State benefits or based on your income level. If you are a recipient of State benefits such as SSI (Disability/Supplemental Security Income), TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families), SAGA (Standard Administered General Services), WIC (Women, Infants, and Children), or SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), you automatically qualify for energy assistance.
Even without State benefits, your income level may still make you eligible for assistance.
When contacting your local Community Action Agency (CAA) for energy assistance, you will need to provide documentation of public benefits if you receive State benefits. If you are qualifying based on income, you would need to provide documentation related to your income: Proof of 4 weeks of any type of income within the last 3 months, current utility bill, household IDs and social security numbers.
To qualify for income-based energy assistance, your household income must be at or below 60% of the State Median Income (SMI). The Connecticut Energy Assistance Program (CEAP) income eligibility guidelines for 2023-2024 are as follows:
| Family Size | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| Income Level | $41,553 | $54,338 | $67,124 | $79,910 | $92,695 | $105,481 | $107,878 | $110,275 |
You can apply for energy assistance by contacting your local Community Action Agency (CAA) in Connecticut. They will guide you through the application process and help you provide the necessary documentation to prove your eligibility for energy assistance. Use our energy assistance map to locate your town's CAA.
List of Energy Assistance Resources
Operation Fuel for Energy Assistance Anywhere in Connecticut
Operation Fuel is the primary source of energy and utilities assistance with over 18,700 individuals served and $2.4 million dollars in emergency assistance disbursed. Operation Fuel ensures equitable access to energy for all by providing year-round emergency energy assistance for low to moderate-income households, in addition to promoting energy independence, and advocating for affordable energy. Operation Fuel also provides funding for repair/replacement of older furnaces, boilers, and water heaters in addtion to water-assistance grants to households in need.
Serving Greater Willimantic & Greater Danielson
The Access Community Action Agency is a federal and state designated non-profit Community Action Agency (CAA). Access has been working with the low-income population of eastern Connecticut. Specifically, residents of Windham and Tolland counties can reach out to Access Agency for help with energy assistance in the Greater Willimantic and Greater Danielson areas. The specific towns covered by access are 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.
Serving Greater Bridgeport & Greater Norwalk
For families in the Greater Bridgeport and Greater Norwalk regions in need of energy assistance, Alliance For Community Empowerment is there for you . In addition to utility bill forgiveness plans, Alliance offers a set of services and a team of expert case workers to fulfill your needs. The specific towns serviced by Alliance are Bridgeport, Easton, Fairfield, Monroe, Norwalk, Stratford, Trumbull, Westport, Bridgeport, Easton, Fairfield, Monroe, Norwalk, Stratford, Trumbull, and Westport.
Serving Greater Danbury & Greater Stamford
CAAWC is accepting applications for energy assistance for the season of 2021-2022. The towns served include Bethel, Brookfield, Danbury, Darien, Greenwich, New Canaan, New Fairfield, Newtown, Redding, Ridgefield, Sherman, Stamford, Weston, Wilton, 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.
Serving Greater New Haven
CAANH operates the CT Energy Assistance Program that provides heating assistance to eligible households in East Haven, Hamden, New Haven, North Haven, and West Haven.
This program helps with all types of heating sources including natural gas, electric, and deliverable fuels such as oil, propane, kerosene, wood/wood pellets and coal.
Serving Greater Hartford & Greater Middletown
Community Renewal Team (CRT) is the designated community action agency for both Hartford and Middlesex Counties, CRT may be able to assist you with your home-heating costs. CRT is dedicated to helping people take steps toward healthy and economically stable futures. CRT can help you complete energy assistance application forms – by phone, email or in-person at their multi-service center in Hartford and Middletown. Towns in CRT's area of coverage are 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.
Serving New Britain-Bristol
Human Resources Agency (HRA) of New Britain has been keeping low-income households warm and safe during the winter months since 1979. Last winter over 6,500 people stayed warmer with a combination of funds made available through HRANB's Energy Assistance Program. They can help with both Vendor mediation and Funding to help pay bills. HRA helps individuals and families residing in greater New Britain, Bristol and surrounding towns, specifically Bristol, Burlington, Farmington, New Britain, Plainville, and Plymouth.
Serving Greater Waterbury, Greater Meriden, & Greater Torrington
New Opportunities Inc. is the community action agency that serves 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. Those who meet certain income-eligibility and geographic requirements may obtain help with their energy costs from one or more of the Energy Assistance programs administered by New Opportunities Inc.
Serving Derby-Milford
TEAM is the State- and Federally-designated antipoverty agency serving southwest/central Connecticut around the Naugatuck River Valley and surrounding region, which includes the communities of Shelton, Shelton, Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Bethany, Derby, Milford, Orange, Oxford, Seymour, and Woodbridge. Through an intake and assessment process, Energy Assistance staff determine how TEAM and its services can best help lower energy costs.
Serving Norwich-New London
TVCCA provides services to low-income and vulnerable households in Eastern Connecticut. Their service area encompasses all of New London County including all of the following towns: 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. TVCCA is currently taking Energy Assistance Applications for the 2021-2022 heating season.
Eversource & United Illuminating Bill Help
Both United Illuminating and Eversource offer a Winter Protection Plan to help you stay warm when temperatures drop. If you meet income eligibility criteria or receive certain government benefits and lack the resources to pay your gas or electric bill, you may qualify for shutoff protection from November 1 through May 1, without any late payment charges. This protection requires annual renewal, starting in October.
If anyone in your home is seriously ill or has a life-threatening situation, you may be eligible for medical protection status to prevent gas or electric service shutoff. This protection extends to residential customers facing financial hardship with a child of 24 months or less who has been recently hospitalized.
Yes, the Connecticut Matching Payment Program is available for qualified customers of United Illuminating and Eversource. When approved for and receiving energy assistance from the Connecticut Energy Assistance Program (CEAP), for every dollar you pay toward your bill, a matching credit will be applied to your past-due amount down to a zero balance.
Starting December 2023, the Low-Income Discount Rate (LIDR) is available for residential electric customers of United Illuminating and Eversource facing financial hardship. Depending on your annual household income or receipt of a public assistance benefit, you may qualify for a 10% or 50% discount on your monthly electric bill. Your eligibility is determined by your household annual income levels or proof of public assistance benefits for at least one household member.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common Questions & Answers about Energy Assistance in Connecticut
To apply for the Connecticut Energy Assistance program, use this energy assistance map to find the Community Action Agency that administers the program in your region as well as contact information. You can also reach out to Operation Fuel here.
Sign up for the Home Energy Solutions - Income Eligible (HES - IE) program. You'll receive expert diagnostics, upgrade recommendations and weatherization services that save the average household receives $1,800 in value from a single 4-6 hour visit. (Average of $1,350 labor & service value + $450 annual energy savings!). If you qualify based on income, it's completely free-of-charge. If you don't qualify based on income, it's only a $50 copay!
Reach out to your local Community Action Agency (CAA) which you can find on the map for further help. It is also suggested you make a payment to your utility company of $100.00 and make sure you are enrolled in the hardship program with the utility company so that you are protected during the winter months: November – May. For expert advice, use the map to locate your CAA and call them now.
Operation Fuel provides emergency energy bill assistance to lower and middle income working families, needy elderly, the disabled and others in the midst of a financial crisis, such as a job loss or a medical emergency. The organization targets those who have exhausted federal benefits and programs and helps prevent residents from having their utility or heating service terminated due to lack of payment.