Colorado PUC extends Utility Bill Help program to help income-qualified customers
The program caps energy bills at six percent of monthly income for eligible customers
A utility bill payment assistance referral program from the Colorado Public Utilities Commission will be available to certain income-qualified utility customers between Nov. 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025.
The Utility Bill Help (UHB) program helps lower-income customers access energy assistance from certain utility-run affordability programs and access resources to manage winter heating expenses. The program’s continuation will provide more people with reliable access to support during Colorado’s coldest months, according to a PUC news release.
These programs cap a customer’s share of their total energy bill, ensuring that customers do not pay more than 6% of their monthly income on their energy bill.
“The PUC is proud of the UBH program that has helped connect the state’s most vulnerable families with existing utility energy assistance programs,” said PUC Director Rebecca White. “This income-qualified program, in its second year, has played a critical role to help save people money, and keep them safe and warm in their own homes.”
The Utility Bill Help pilot program is entering its second year. Last year the program had 768 applications. Fifty one percent of UBH applicants were enrolled in a utility-run energy assistance program and 197 applicants received forgiveness credits for past due balances ranging from $2 to $5,500, according to the release.
“Customers are always encouraged to apply for LEAP to access all energy assistance benefits available to them for the heating season,” said the news release. “If a customer is already enrolled in LEAP, they do not need to apply to UBH because they will be referred to the utility-led assistance programs through LEAP.”
To qualify for the program, residents must be a customer of Xcel Energy, Black Hills Energy, Atmos Energy, or Colorado Natural Gas, and must be receiving assistance from one of the following benefit programs:
- Aid to the Needy Disabled (AND)
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF)
- Woman, Infants and Children (WIC)
- Subsidized Housing (Housing Choice Voucher, previously called Section 8)
For more information on the Utility Bill Help program, visit here, call 303-869-0380, or email [email protected].
