Low Income Assistance

For residents who need help paying and reducing their electric bills, there are several programs available:

Connecticut Energy Assistance Program (CEAP) and State Appropriated Fuel Assistance Program (SAFA)
These programs help low-income households pay winter heating bills. If you heat with electricity, a payment is made to your electric company to help cover your winter heating bills. Applications are usually taken from Nov. 1 to mid-March. For more information, call INFOLINE by dialing 211, your local Community Action Agency, or the Department of Social Services at 1-800-842-1132.

Operation Fuel and Local Fuel Banks
Operation Fuel is a private, non-profit program that provides emergency help with energy or utility bills for people who are not eligible for CEAP or SAFA. Call your local fuel bank for an application, or call INFOLINE by dialing 211.

Weatherization Assistance
Community Action Agencies provide weatherization assistance for some low-income households, including homeowners and renters. For more information call INFOLINE by dialing 211, or your local Community Action Agency. If you believe your rights have been violated by an electric supplier or by your electric distribution company, call the DPUC at 1-800-382-4586.

CL&P and UI also have programs to help you pay your electric bill, including energy efficiency (conservation) programs that can help you use energy more wisely.

CL&P has a budget billing plan and the NU Start payment incentive program to help eligible low-income customers pay their bills. A year-round payment plan is set up for you. If you're eligible for NU Start and you pay your current bill every month, your past due balance will be "forgiven" over time. CL&P's Low-Income Weatherization Residential Assistance Program (WRAP), provides help that can reduce your electric bills through energy efficiency, or conservation.

UI has a budget billing plan for customers in good standing and the MaPP payment arrangement plan, which helps qualified hardship customers pay past due electric bills. Under MaPP, if you make all of your current payments, your past due balance can be "forgiven" over time. UI HELPS provides help that can reduce your electric bills through conservation.

For more information on these and other programs, call CL&P or UI at the toll-free phone number listed on your electric bill.