Where to Get Help with Your Winter Heat Bill

With the economic outlook continuing to look bleak, keeping up with the payments on your winter heat bill may be tougher than ever. While your local utility company cannot disconnect the heat during freezing winter temperatures, most companies will expect to see a winter heat bill brought current in the early spring.

If you can't afford to pay your winter heat bill, the guidelines outlined in this article entitled "12 cheap and easy ways to lower your winter heat bill," can prevent a winter heat bill from reaching staggering amounts. Tapping into the network of charitable agencies that can help with paying a winter heat bill can also help.

It's important to remember that charities only have so much money to go around for utility assistance. Keeping the thermostat down to 55-60 degrees means a lower winter heat bill and a better chance of paying the entire bill when it comes due

Call your city's public utility services department. Most city governments have their pulse on both government and nonprofit agencies that help with winter utility costs. If needing utility assistance, call this city department first to find out who can help subsidizing your winter heat bill.

Contact your utility provider. Many utility companies participate in "operation round-up" where customers can add a few cents to their winter heat bill to subsidize another family's bill. Your utility provider can put you in the agency. Low income families usually have to apply for this program and furnish proof of income, social security numbers for the entire family, and other documents.

Contact Salvation Army, St. Vincent de Paul, Red Cross, or United Way. These nonprofit agencies also have emergency funds to help low income families with their utility bills. While these agencies might not cover the entire bill, they can contribute a sizable chunk which is why being energy-smart during the winter means that your portion will be smaller too.

Database of Agencies listed by state. The webmaster of this site put together a dandy little reference guide of agencies that can assist with utilities and winter heat bills. The list isn't complete, and doesn't provide contact information, but does give you the name of the agency and the regions of the state that they service.