Customer Assistance Referral and Evaluation Program (CARES)

Customer Assistance Referral and Evaluation Program (CARES) is sponsored by Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission. The CARES program helps utility customers in Pennsylvania with special needs, such as medical emergencies. While not cancer-specific, the applicant's medical leave and upcoming surgery due to breast cancer could qualify them for assistance with utility bills.

Utility Assistance Programs | PA PUC En Banc Hearing on Interconnection and Tariffs for Large Load Customers Damage Prevention Committee Electric Companies & Suppliers Prepare Now for Winter Energy Costs Voluntary Electric Energy Efficiency and Conservation Programs Energy Efficiency, Conservation & Savings Electric Terms Dictionary Technical Conference on Resource Adequacy Damage Prevention Committee Voluntary Natural Gas EE&C Programs Natural Gas Companies & Suppliers Committees & Working Groups Energy Efficiency, Conservation and Savings Information Prepare Now for Winter Energy Costs Damage Prevention Committee Broadband Internet Service PA Universal Service Fund Monthly Remittance and Annual Reporting by Telcos Local Service Abandonment Notification Application to Provide Telecomm Services Telecommunications Relay Service Telephone Companies & Contacts Telecommunications Glossary Interconnection Agreements Biennial NMP Progress Report Forms Damage Prevention Committee Water Information & Conservation Tips Jurisdiction & Regulations Damage Prevention Committee Operator and Public Resources Jurisdictional Pipeline Operators Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) Safety Assistance Program Rail Safety Applications & Petitions Rail Safety Division Responsibilities Blocked Railroad Crossings Public Meetings & Hearings Utility Assistance Programs Utility Assistance Programs If you live in a low-income household or are undergoing a hardship, you may qualify for support in paying utility bills.

Most electric, gas, water, phone and internet companies offer assistance programs. Review the types of programs below and contact your utility to see what is available for your household. Check your bill for the name of your electric, natural gas and water utility.

Citizens' Electric Company Pike County Light & Power (800) 844-9276 or (800) UGI-WARM Peoples Natural Gas/Peoples Gas Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW) (570) 888-9667 or (800) 998-4427 Pennsylvania American Water Additional Assistance Programs Dial 211 or Text your Zip to 898-211 Homeowner's Assistance Fund (HAF) Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) Electricity and Natural Gas Assistance Any residential customers may contact their electric or natural gas company to request budget billing.

Budget billing means each monthly bill will be the same amount. The company may adjust the bill up to four times a year, up or down, depending on your usage. Customer Assistance Program (CAP) Customer Assistance Programs (CAPs) are designed to help low-income residential customers maintain utility service.

CAPs can help lower your monthly utility bill, and may also reduce or remove the amount you already owe. The company works with you to determine what you can pay based on your household income. Customer Assistance Referral and Evaluation Program (CARES) The CARES program provides referral service for customers experiencing temporary hardships, such as family emergencies, divorce, unemployment or medical emergencies.

CARES may provide support, direction and resources to help customers address their hardship situations and make it easier to pay their utility bills. Low Income Usage Reduction Program (LIURP) LIURP helps eligible low-income residential customers lower the amount of electricity or natural gas used each month. The company may install energy saving features in your home to help reduce bills.

A smaller bill means you'll be able to cover more of your bill. Utility company hardship funds provide grants to pay utility bills. These funds offer help to customers who "fall through the cracks" of other financial assistance programs.

They can also be used for those who still need help after other resources have been used. The hardship funds make payments directly to the utility company on behalf of the customer. Responsible Utility Customer Protection Act Protections for Responsible Utility Customers - Spanish Version - Fact sheet provides information on protections for consumers and their utility service.

Energy Assistance Resources Energy Assistance Programs Get information on where support is available if you need help with your energy bills. Declaración de Derechos del Consumidor de Energía de Pennsylvania Los clientes de energía residencial en Pennsylvania tienen derechos de acceso a programas de asistencia de servicios públicos.

Programas de Asistencia Energética Obtenga información sobre dónde está disponible el apoyo si necesita ayuda con sus facturas de energía. descargar hoja informativa Medical Certificate Guidance The Medical Certificate Guidance provides information for customers and medical professionals regarding submitting medical certificates to public utilities to avoid termination of service or to restore service.

Download Medical Certificate Guidance Standard Medical Certificate Form The Standard Medical Certificate Form may be used as a tool to help simplify the medical certificate process for customers, medical professionals, and public utilities.

Download Medical Certificate Form Guía de Certificados Médicos La Guía de certificados médicos proporciona información para clientes y profesionales médicos sobre la presentación de certificados médicos a los servicios públicos para evitar la terminación del servicio o restablecer el servicio.

Descargar Guía de certificados médicos Formulario de Certificado Médico El formulario de certificado médico estándar se puede utilizar como una herramienta para ayudar a simplificar el proceso de certificado médico para clientes, profesionales médicos y empresas de servicios públicos.

Descargar Formulario de Certificado Médico Utility Assistance Qualifications Customers must meet certain income limits to qualify for CAP, CARES, LIURP and Hardship Funds. Customers may need to make a payment arrangement with the company. Refer to the chart below for the latest income levels customers must meet for CAP.

If your household's monthly income is less than these limits, call your local utility company to see if you qualify. 2026 Household Size Monthly Income - 150% Federal Poverty Income Guidelines The following income levels for CAP are effective as of January 2026. For each additional person in the household, add $710.

Note: The income levels may be slightly higher for LIURP, CARES and Hardship Funds. Income levels may also be higher for People's Natural Gas CAP. Federal Energy Assistance Programs Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) LIHEAP is the federal program that provides financial assistance to needy households for home energy bills.

In Pennsylvania, the Department of Human Services (DHS) administers the LIHEAP program. The LIHEAP program provides both cash and crisis benefits to low-income households. Cash benefits help low-income customers pay for their home energy needs, while crisis payments may help resolve emergency home energy situations.

Your household income must be within certain limits to qualify. These limits are listed on the DHS website. The LIHEAP Application Form is located on the DHS website .

For more information, contact the LIHEAP hotline at 866-857-7095. LIHEAP Recovery Crisis Program The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps low-income households pay some energy costs associated with heating your home. In response to the global coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the Unites States Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

The CARES Act, in part, has provided additional funding for LIHEAP to aid households that have been negatively financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. In order to get this much needed assistance to as many households as possible, the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) has created the LIHEAP Recovery Crisis Program.

If your household is experiencing a heating emergency, such as being out of fuel or having a past due balance that may result in your electricity or natural gas being shut off, LIHEAP may be able to help. For more information on this special Recovery Crisis Program, visit the DHS website . Your household income must be within certain limits to qualify.

These limits are listed on Department of Human Services website at Energy Assistance - General Information . For more information on LIHEAP and an application for, visit the Department of Human Services' website: LIHEAP Application Form . Partners for Warmth - LIHEAP Outreach for customers of Peoples Natural Gas, Columbia Gas of PA, Equitable Gas and Peoples TWP.

Telephone and Internet Service Assistance Programs Telephone and broadband internet assistance programs are available for consumers with limited incomes. Programs can help you keep service connected, reduce monthly bills, help pay connection fees and avoid shutoffs. Eligibility is determined based on your income or participation in other assistance programs.

Each company and program has different benefits and restrictions. Some programs have restrictions on the optional services available to participants. Contact your telephone or internet company to see if you qualify for their assistance program.

The Lifeline Program is a government program that helps low-income consumers with a discount on monthly service for: Broadband internet access service (internet service) Combination of telephone and internet service Lifeline works with both landline and wireless providers.

The programs give consumers the opportunities and security that phone and internet service provides, such as connecting to jobs, family, health care, schools, and 911 emergency services.

You may qualify for Lifeline Assistance based on income (at or below 135% of the federal poverty guidelines) or if you participate in any of the following programs: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Veterans and Survivors Pension Benefit Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA) Affordable Connectivity Program Funding Letter to PA Congressional Delegation - Letter sent by Additional information on the Lifeline Program is available on the USAC website .

Lifeline Across America Website - The FCC website that provides information and resources regarding federal and state Lifeline programs. Lifeline Eligibility - A website by Universal Service Administrative Company Wireless Lifeline Providers - This chart lists the wireless telephone companies that provide Lifeline discounts in Pennsylvania through the federal Lifeline program.

The chart describes and highlights each wireless company's service plan options. Landline Lifeline Providers - This list contains company phone numbers and web addresses for the companies, and the counties served. Lifeline Providers by County - This list shows all of the providers in each county.

Customer Participation - Lifeline and Link-Up information for all participating telephone companies in 2023 and 2024. Affordable Broadband Help Emergency Broadband Benefit for PA Consumers - Factsheet explaining the FCC's recently established the Emergency Broadband Benefit program.

FCC's Notice of the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program - As of May 12, 2021, eligible households will be able to enroll in the Program to receive a monthly discount off the cost of broadband service from an approved provider. Eligible households can enroll through an approved provider or by visiting https://getemergencybroadband. org .

Universal Service Information Get universal service filing schedules, plans, evaluations, and other related information. See the PUC's comprehensive review of universal service and energy conservation programs. Get universal service compliance data submitted by electric and natural gas distribution companies.

Consumer Advisory Council Consumer Education and Outreach Services Utility Assistance Programs Consumer Programs and Publications Winter Utility Bill Checklist National List of Utility Commissions Offices and Staff Directory Public Meetings & Hearings Utility and Service Types PUC Actions Related to COVID-19 Learn how to submit a complaint with a public utility. You can also search existing formal complaints.

If you can't find what you're looking for here, please contact the PA Public Utility Commission. Call us at 1-800-692-7380 or contact us online . Public utility documents available electronically include case dockets, public meeting orders and more.

Find utility-related reports, laws and regulations, federal filings, tariffs, procedures and more. Consumers, utilities and attorneys can save time by submitting documents to the PUC electronically.

En Banc Hearing on Interconnection and Tariffs for Large Load Customers Damage Prevention Committee Electric Companies & Suppliers Prepare Now for Winter Energy Costs Voluntary Electric Energy Efficiency and Conservation Programs Energy Efficiency, Conservation & Savings Electric Terms Dictionary Technical Conference on Resource Adequacy Damage Prevention Committee Voluntary Natural Gas EE&C Programs Natural Gas Companies & Suppliers Committees & Working Groups Energy Efficiency, Conservation and Savings Information Prepare Now for Winter Energy Costs Damage Prevention Committee Broadband Internet Service PA Universal Service Fund Monthly Remittance and Annual Reporting by Telcos Local Service Abandonment Notification Application to Provide Telecomm Services Telecommunications Relay Service Telephone Companies & Contacts Telecommunications Glossary Interconnection Agreements Biennial NMP Progress Report Forms Damage Prevention Committee Water Information & Conservation Tips Jurisdiction & Regulations Damage Prevention Committee Operator and Public Resources Jurisdictional Pipeline Operators Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) Safety Assistance Program Rail Safety Applications & Petitions Rail Safety Division Responsibilities Blocked Railroad Crossings Public Meetings & Hearings Customer Hotline 1-800-692-7380