Utility Bill Estimates & Energy Assistance in Connecticut
Get Energy Assistance in Connecticut
Estimate Utility Bills by City
Utility estimates in your town (and how to reduce them).
If your energy bills feel overwhelming, as a Connecticut resident, you may have options!
Every month, all Connecticut residents pay a small charge on their utility bill to make CT homes more energy efficient. These funds are combined with other state allocations and are provided on the basis of need. Access the benefits that you are contributing to funding. Find out what you're eligible for!
What happens in a HES energy audit?
Home Energy Solutions (HES)
Home Energy Solutions or "HES" is a comprehensive in-home energy efficiency service designed to help lower energy bills. It combines deep diagnostics with immediate remedial action into a single 4-6 hour visit from an energy efficiency team. Thanks to public funding, the co-pay is only $50 (FREE if income-eligible) and produces an average of $1,800 of value and savings*.
Home Energy Solutions Income-Eligible (HES-IE)
For residents with an annual income below 60% of the state's median income you may be eligible for a home energy assessment free-of-charge, in addition to other energy efficiency upgrades at little to no cost. This video gives you an idea of what you might expect from HES-IE (program terms are subject to change and results may vary).
What happens in a HES-IE energy audit?
Find your local energy assistance agencies, energy bill estimates and energy resources.
The data is derived from various consumption & pricing reports from the Energy Information Bureau and U.S. Census Bureau in addition to collaboration with local partners like Operation Fuel.(For more, toggle "Data & Methods" below)
Disclaimers
Data & Methods
The data provided in this tool is a set of forward-looking estimates to help you predict what prices may look like in your town. There may be differences between what you see here and your actual bills. We do our best to update and improve our predictive methods constantly, however, the tool and data provided do not constitute legal or financial advice, and we give no warranties as to its accuracy. Please conduct further research and consult your utility for details on your specific utility usage.
Let us know how we're doing!
If you have questions about our data, see issues or wish to contribute we'd love to hear your feedback!
Having difficulty paying your bill? Here's what you can do today!
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 expert diagnostics, upgrade recommendations and free weatherization services. The average participating 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're eligible for energy assistance, you're probably eligible for HES-IE. It's fast and free and addresses one of the root causes of high energy bills. Though HES 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!
You'll find a list of resources from community organizations to state and city administered programs for energy assistance. OperationFuel is a vital resource for Connecticut households struggling with their utility bills. You can learn more about Operation Fuel and reach out to them below.
We've also provided information on the Connecticut Energy Assistance Program, or "CEAP", which is government funded energy assistance in CT. Below you'll find a map of the agencies that administer CEAP in your area. You can click a location on the agency map to find your town's agency and contact information or simply keep reading below.
List of Energy Assistance Resources
In Connecticut, your two best options for energy assistance are CEAP and Operation Fuel. Operation Fuel is a non-profit and is the foremost energy assistance organization serving Connecticut. You can reach out to them below. 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.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions about Energy Assistance in Connecticut
To apply for the Connecticut Energy Assistance program, use this map to find the Community Action Agency that administers the program in your region. For Operation Fuel, go here.
Proof of 4 weeks of any type of income within the last 3 months, current utility bill, household IDs and social security numbers.
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.
The Connecticut Energy Assistance Program (CEAP) is available to families or individuals with a gross annual income at or below 60% of the State Median Income (SMI)
| Family Size | Maximum Annual Income |
|---|---|
| 1 | Under $39,027.14 |
| 2 | Under $51,035.50 |
| 3 | Under $63,043.85 |
| 4 | Under $75,052.20 |
| 5 | Under $87,060.55 |
| 6 | Under $99,068.90 |
| 7 | Under $101,320.47 |
| 8 | Under $103,572.04 |
Important Dates Concerning CEAP
Energy Assistance 2021-2022 Season
August 2, 2021 – Early intake applications begin to be accepted.
October 1, 2021 – Start of energy season.
November 1, 2021 – First day for fuel deliveries that can be paid by the program.
May 2, 2022 – Deadline for fuel authorizations or deliveries.
May 31, 2022 – The last day that a household can apply to establish its eligibility for benefits.
June 15, 2022 – Last day to submit deliverable fuel bills.
What Affects Connecticut Energy Prices?
Energy Prices Go Up Accross Connecticut
According to the United States Energy Information Administration (EIA) US heating bills will jump as much as 54% this winter. The EIA expects that the nearly half of U.S. households that heat primarily with natural gas will spend 30% more than they spent last winter on average—50% more if the winter is 10% colder-than-average and 22% more if the winter is 10% warmer-than-average.
(Graphic Source: NBC Connecticut)
- " U.S. households that heat primarily with electricity will spend 6% more—15% more in a colder winter and 4% more in a warmer winter."
- "U.S. Households that heat primarily with propane will spend 54% more—94% more in a colder winter and 29% more in a warmer winter."
- " U.S. Households that heat primarily with heating oil will spend 43% more—59% more in a colder winter and 30% more in a warmer winter."
How Does This Affect Heating Bills in Connecticut?
Connecticut already has the #1 highest overall household energy costs in the United States and the 3rd highest electricity prices behind Hawaii and Alaska respectively. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts this winter will be slightly colder than average, but the biggest factors driving the the increased expenditure this winter are the recent rises in energy commodity prices resulting from COVID19 related supply and demand dynamics. Due to COVID and the ensuing shutdowns, commodity prices precipitously dropped to multi-year lows causing production to lag. Now that the economy is roaring back, demand has far outpaced supply.
