Poor in Tucson: How to Get Help with Your Utility Bills

Things happen. People lose jobs, get sick, leave relationships. Sometimes family finances are a daily struggle. Either way, when money gets tight, the luxuries are the first to go. Goodbye DVD rentals, restaurant meals, and new shoes.

Sometimes things go from bad to worse, and the grocery budget is cut, and the utility bills fall by the wayside. Then comes that pink envelope in the mail: the utility disconnect notice. Don't panic and think, "I don't have the money-there's nothing I can do!" Whether you're on the brink of losing your gas or electric service, or you already have, there are resources in Tucson you can utilize to ensure that your family has the power that it needs.

Southwest Gas Corporation (SWG)

Low-Income Ratepayer Assistance (LIRA)

The LIRA program grants a 20% discount on the "per therm" rate for the first 150 therms of natural gas used each month (November through April only) for customers who meet income requirements. This means that the discount applies when you need it most-during the winter months, when gas bills double, triple, or worse. For details, see

http://www.swgas.com/residential/specialprograms/lira.php

To fill out the LIRA application online, visit

https://www.swgas.com/residential/specialprograms/LIRA_app.php

Deferred Payment Program

This program enables those customers experiencing hardship to make arrangements to have outstanding balances broken into payments that can be paid over an extended period of time. This is a program that can only be used before gas service is interrupted, so call customer service and ask about this program before you're disconnected.

SWG Customer Service:

Local: (520) 889-1888
Toll Free: (800) 428-7324

Third-Party Notification Program

This program alerts a friend or family member if your account becomes delinquent. Your friend or family member is not obligated to pay on your account- but they are made aware of the situation. Your friends and family can't help if they don't know you need it. For program details, contact SWG's customer service department.

Tucson Electric Power Company (TEP)

Lifeline Discount

For customers who meet the financial guidelines, TEP gives an $8 credit per month. It's a modest amount, but every little bit helps! For details, see

http://www.tep.com/Community/AssistancePrograms/lifeline.asp

For the Lifeline Discount application (in English), visit

http://www.tep.com/docs/LifelineApplication.pdf

Lifeline/Medical Life-support Discount

For customers who meet the programs' financial criteria and who also have a household member with a qualifying medical condition, TEP offers a discount of up to 35%. To qualify, a household member must use an essential medical life-support device, and be a paraplegic, quadriplegic or hemiplegic, or a multiple sclerosis or scleroderma patient. Documentation must be provided. For more information, visit

http://www.tep.com/Community/AssistancePrograms/lifeline.asp

For the Lifeline Medical Life-support Discount application, visit

http://www.tep.com/Community/AssistancePrograms/lifeline.asp

For the Lifeline Medical Life-support Discount application, visit

http://www.tep.com/docs/LifelineMed.pdf

Other Resources

There are private agencies that will help you pay your utility bill. It's best to see them before your service is disconnected, but they will help you to reconnect service if you've already been shut off. These agencies will only assist you a finite number of times, so use these resources sparingly-- and be prepared to bring a lot of documentation with you.

PimaCounty Community Services
2797 E. Ajo Way.
Tucson, AZ 85713
(520) 243-6700 for rural Pima County residents

Tucson Urban League
2305 South Park Ave.
Tucson, AZ 85701
(520) 623-4388 Ext 223 for City of Tucson residents
Hours: 8:30 a.m. - 11 a.m.

Salvation Army Family Services
General information - 520-294-5224