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Need Help Paying Your Utility Bills?
You may be able to get help through the Dollar Energy Fund (DEF) and LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program). These programs help people who are struggling to pay their electric, gas, water, or sewage bills. Please see the Community Resources page to learn about LIHEAP.
Who Can Get Help from the Dollar Energy Fund (DEF)?
You may qualify if:
- You live in a home or apartment with your own utility account (not shared with neighbors).
- Your name is on the utility bill.
- Your household income is below the limits listed below.
- You owe money on your utility bill.
- You’ve made a recent “sincere effort” payment (see below).
- You’ve applied for LIHEAP and Crisis funding assistance, if the programs are open.
For each utility you get service from, you can only receive DEF assistance once per 12 months.
DEF Payment Requirement (Sincere Effort of Payment/ “Good Faith” Payment)
You must have paid something on your bill in the last few months:
- Most people must have paid at least $150 in the past 3 months.
- If you are 62 or older, you only need to have paid $100.
- Some companies have different rules (see below).
Special cases:
- Citizens Electric: No payment required.
- Valley Energy & Wellsboro Electric: $100 required ($50 for seniors).
- PA American Water & PWSA: No payment required.
- Clairton & Lehigh County Water: $100 (Lehigh allows 4 months instead of 3).
- West View Water: $100 ($50 for seniors).
- Wilkinsburg-Penn Joint Water: $50 for everyone.
- If you are enrolled in Duquesne Light or People’s Gas CAP program, the Sincere Effort payment may be equal to 2 months of CAP payments.
DEF Minimum Balance Requirement
You usually must owe at least $100 on your bill.
Exceptions:
- Lehigh County: $200 minimum.
- Seniors (62+): May owe less, depending on your company.
- Some companies (like PWSA, Peoples Gas) don’t have a minimum for seniors.
How Much Help Can You Get from DEF?
Most people can get up to $500 per utility per year.
Some companies offer more or less:
- Citizens Electric: $600
- Duquesne Light: $600
- Wellsboro Electric: $800
- Clairton Municipal: $200
- Lehigh County: $400
- PWSA: $450 for water + $450 for sewage
- Wilkinsburg-Penn Joint: $250
You may have to pay your outstanding balance down beyond the “Sincere Effort” payment amount in order to qualify for DEF assistance. This varies by utility provider.
What You’ll Need to Apply for DEF Assistance
Bring copies or photos of the following:
- Proof of income (for everyone in your home)
- Your most recent utility bill or shut-off notice
- Proof of recent payment (bank statement, receipt, etc.)
- A signed agreement (we’ll help you with this)
Already on a Utility Company Payment Plan?
If your utility company says your service is not in danger of being shut off, you may not qualify until March 1 (when the program opens to everyone).
How Will You Hear Back?
Once your DEF application is reviewed, you’ll get a response from the fund:
- By text (if you give a phone number)
- By email (if you give an email address)
- By mail (if you give neither)
Participating Utility Companies
Electricity
- Citizens Electric
- Duquesne Light
- MetEd
- Penelec
- Penn Power
- Wellsboro Electric
- West Penn Power
Gas
- Columbia Gas
- Peoples Natural Gas
- Valley Energy
Water & Sewage
- Clairton Municipal Authority
- Lehigh County Authority
- PA American Water
- Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority (PWSA)
- West View Water
- Wilkinsburg-Penn Joint Water
Dollar Energy Fund Income Guidelines
For households of seniors 62 and older who are not working and on a fixed income, the monthly income limit is the net income the household receives. For other households, the monthly income limit is the gross income from wages &/or government programs.
Most energy companies utilize 200% of the Federal Poverty Income Guidelines (FPIG), though a few use 150% or 250%. If you aren’t sure about the FPIG used by your energy company, contact PCSI for more help.
2026 Federal Poverty Income Guidelines
Need help figuring this out or want someone to walk you through it?