Texas Utility Help offers financial assistance with energy, water bills
Texans are tapping into air conditioning to stay safe and cool during the triple-digit heat wave hammering the Lone Star State.
That means energy bills that could drain bank accounts, but there is assistance for low-income households through the Texas Utility Help program.
Now accepting applications, the program can provide financial assistance for eligible expenses including electricity, gas, propane, water and wastewater, according to its website at texasutilityhelp.com.
Applications are accepted through the website. Households that don't have access to a computer or the internet can appoint a representative to submit an application for them.
The assistance is available to qualifying homeowners and renters in the form of grants that go directly to utilities. It does not need to be repaid.
The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs administers the federally funded program.
Households may be eligible if their maximum income is at or below 150% of federal poverty guidelines. That means an annual income, for instance, of $21,870 for a household of one. For a household of four, the number is $45,000.
The maximum income allowed is based on how many people live in the home and their gross income before taxes and other deductions.
In addition, at least one member of the household must be a U.S. citizen or a qualified alien, which is an individual with permanent resident status in the United States, as well as other groups as well.
The program can provide financial assistance up to the total past-due amount. But it is not necessary to have past due bills to qualify for the program. The program can provide a one-time advance payment up to $2,400 paid directly to utilities.
For questions, Texas Utility Help can be reached 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday at a toll-free number, 855-566-2057. The call center provides help in multiple languages.
Funding for Texas Utility Help comes from the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program and the federal Low Income Household Water Assistance Program.
This year, the TDHCA also put $48 million of additional money from the Federal Infrastructure and Jobs Investment Act into the Texas Utility Help program to help Texans pay energy bills.
Other help with utility bills is available to qualifying residents. The TDHCA provides an online tool to help Texans find assistance. The tool also checks for locally available help.
In addition, the Texas Homeowner Assistance Fund offers financial help to eligible homeowners who have fallen behind on utility, mortgage and other payments for pandemic-related reasons. The application process is online at texashomeownerassistance.com.
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Trish Choate, enterprise watchdog reporter for the Times Record News, covers education, courts, breaking news, politics and more. Contact Trish with news tips at tchoate@gannett.com. Her Twitter handle is @Trishapedia.
This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Texas Utility Help program helps pay energy, water bills
