Low-Income Discount Rate

Low-Income Discount Rate is sponsored by Connecticut utility companies (e.g., Eversource, United Illuminating). This program offers an electronic bill discount to eligible customers with a financial hardship status on their electric account. The discount amount (10% or 50%) depends on household income or receipt of public assistance benefits.

Payment Assistance Programs Payment Assistance Programs If you are viewing this version of CT. gov, you are using an unsupported browser or you are in Internet Explorer 9 using compatibility mode. This means that the design and layout of the site is not fully supported, however the content of the site is still fully accessible and functional.

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High Contrast Mode On or Off switch Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Public Utilities Regulatory Authority Payment Assistance Programs Payment Assistance Programs For customers facing difficulty paying utility bills, please contact your local utility provider for details on hardship protection and possible payment plans tailored to financial or medical circumstances.

Contact information for local utilities is available at the bottom of this page. For additional support and social services, including utility assistance in Connecticut, you can also call 211.

Energy Payment Assistance Programs Water Payment Assistance Programs Energy Assistance Programs Financial Hardship Designation Customers of Eversource, Yankee Gas, UI, SCG, and CNG who meet income eligibility requirements or receive specific government benefits can request financial hardship protection.

This designation enables access to payment arrangements (summarized below) and provides statutory shut-off protection from November 1 through May 1 (known as the Winter Protection Period). Customers may have to submit updated eligibility documentation annually. Please contact your utility for more information.

Criteria include: Receiving local, state, or federal assistance (e.g., CEAP, SNAP, TANF, unemployment benefits) Income at or below 60% of the State Median Income - Customers with financial hardship or medical protection can contract with an electric supplier at a rate no higher than the standard service rate. Inform suppliers of your hardship status to ensure compliance with statutory guidelines. Visit EnergizeCT for competitive rates.

Eversource Bill Assistance and Fact Sheet UI/CNG/SCG Bill Help Website Eligible customers may receive a monthly discount on their electric bill. Auto-enrollment at the 10% level is available for those receiving certain state benefits, but customers must contact their utility to qualify for a higher discount.

Discount Rate | Eversource Low-Income Discount Rate - UI Customers with hardship or medical protection are protected from shut-off from November 1 through May 1 through the statutorily-mandated Winter Protection Period, though payments are encouraged to avoid a larger balance at the end of the period. Annual renewal is required by submitting updated documentation in October.

Eversource Winter Protection Plan UI/CNG/SCG Help with Bill Connecticut Energy Assistance Program (CEAP) CEAP assists low-income customers with winter heating bills through direct payments. Benefit amounts vary based on household factors and vulnerability. Customers apply annually via their local Community Action Agency (CAA).

DSS Connecticut Energy Assistance Program Matching Payment Program (MPP) MPP helps hardship-designated electric and gas customers by matching payments and energy assistance awards (as relevant) to help clear past due balances. Participation provides year-round shut-off protection as long as designated payments are made.

Eversource Matching Payment Program UI/CNG/SCG Matching Payment Program New Start (Eversource electric customers) Available to income-eligible residential customers with past due balances, New Start forgives balances over 12 months for on-time payments. All new program enrollments ended on October 31, 2024.

Starting November 1, 2024, the new Matching Payment Program (MPP) will be the vehicle for arrearage forgiveness program enrollment moving forward. Balance Forgiveness Program (BFP; UI customers) UI’s BFP helps eliminate past due balances through credits applied for each on-time payment. All new program enrollments ended on October 31, 2024.

Starting November 1, 2024, the new Matching Payment Program (MPP) will be the vehicle for arrearage forgiveness program enrollment moving forward. UI Bill Forgiveness Program Flexible Payment Arrangement All customers can access flexible payment plans to manage past due balances over an 18-month period. Accounts in good standing with on-time payments are protected from shut-off.

Eversource Flexible Payment Arrangement UI Flexible Payment Arrangement For households with someone facing a serious illness or life-threatening condition, medical protection prevents service termination. This designation, renewed annually, protects service during the Winter Protection Period and at all times for life-threatening cases. Customers must submit a physician’s certification.

Eversource Billing Rights UI/CNG/SCG Medical Protection Contact your utility to enroll in the programs described above. Please note that shut-off protection is available only for customers who are designated financial hardship and are currently enrolled in a payment program. Your utility will contact you prior to termination.