1,000+ Opportunities
Find the right grant
Search federal, foundation, and corporate grants with AI — or browse by agency, topic, and state.
Utility Company Hardship Funds is sponsored by Local Utility Companies (e.g., Citizens' Electric Company, Duquesne Light Company, Met-Ed, Columbia Gas, PECO Energy, Aqua, Pennsylvania American Water). These funds provide grants to help customers pay utility bills, especially those who may not qualify for other financial assistance programs or need additional help.
They can also be used to resolve crises preventing low-income utility customers from paying their bills.
Get a weekly digest of new grants like this
A free weekly digest of new foundation and federal funding opportunities as they're added to Granted. Unsubscribe anytime.
Or search similar grants →Extracted from the official opportunity page/RFP to help you evaluate fit faster.
Grant Applications Now Being Accepted for 2020-2021 Program Year - Dollar Energy Fund Grant Applications Now Being Accepted for 2020-2021 Program Year Dollar Energy Fund’s Hardship Program, a utility assistance program providing grants for limited-income households, opened today for its 2020-2021 program year and is now accepting applications from customers in need of help with their gas, water, electric and sewer bills.
New this year, special exceptions will be offered by several of the organization’s utility partners to extend assistance to those impacted by COVID-19. Dollar Energy Fund provides grants to households facing an immediate utility crisis and funding is applied directly to their utility account to prevent a termination or to restore their service.
This program is a fund of last resort, as it goes above and beyond what is available through federal, state and other programs. “Our Hardship Program is a lifeline for households who are experiencing a financial crisis,” said Chad Quinn, Dollar Energy Fund’s Chief Executive Officer.
“In the time of COVID-19, and with many workers experiencing a partial or total loss of income, we know that more and more families are struggling to afford their monthly utility bills. We’ve been working with our utility partners to adjust our program guidelines as necessary to ensure those in our community who are the most vulnerable are able to qualify for this much-needed assistance.
” Grant funding applications are currently being accepted for customers of the following utilities: California Water Service Company Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority Indianapolis Power & Light Company Metropolitan Utilities District Omaha Public Power District Citizens’ Electric Company Clairton Municipal Authority Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania Met-Ed, a FirstEnergy Company Penelec, a FirstEnergy Company Penn Power, a FirstEnergy Company Pennsylvania American Water Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority West Penn Power, a FirstEnergy Company West View Water Authority Appalachian Power Company Old Dominion Power Company Virginia American Water Company, Inc. Appalachian Power Company Dominion Energy West Virginia Mon Power, a FirstEnergy Company Potomac Edison, a FirstEnergy Company West Virginia American Water On November 1, 2020, assistance programs will open for customers of Indiana Michigan Power in Indiana and AEP Ohio.
Applications for most programs will continue to be accepted on a first come, first served basis through September 30, 2020, or until funds are depleted. The guidelines to qualify for assistance have been modified for customers of some utilities in response to COVID-19.
Those seeking help should first contact their utility company for eligibility screening and to be referred to a community based agency for assistance with Dollar Energy Fund’s application process. This approach connects households with additional services from a local nonprofit agency that may also be available to limited-income households, such as food, childcare and career assistance.
Contact-less application may be available upon request. “One thing we can’t stress enough is the importance of reaching out for help as soon as you need it,” said Chad Quinn, Dollar Energy Fund’s Chief Executive Officer. “Our program is a resource for those in need, and we encourage those who are struggling to take the first step and reach out.
There are several options available to ensure utility customers are able to maintain utility service as we approach the winter heating season. ” Eligibility guidelines vary by utility and are subject to change at any time. Full eligibility guidelines and application instructions can be found by clicking below.
Dollar Energy Fund is a national leader in utility assistance. Since 1983, Dollar Energy Fund’s hardship grants have helped more than 586,000 families maintain or restore safe utility services. Dollar Energy Fund is funded by public contributions that are matched dollar for dollar by partnering utility companies.
Utility customers are also able to contribute a dollar or more to Dollar Energy Fund through their monthly utility bill. Direct donations can be made online at www. dollarenergy.
org/donate or by sending a check to Box 42329, Pittsburgh, PA 15203. Every donation to Dollar Energy Fund’s Hardship Program is tax deductible and additional support from the utility companies allows for 100 percent of all donations and matching funds to be used as assistance grants to help households in need.
For more information about Dollar Energy Fund and how to apply for a grant from the Hardship Program, or to make a donation to the organization, visit www. dollarenergy. org .
Dollar Energy fund was founded in 1983 and has grown to become the largest hardship fund in Pennsylvania and one of the largest programs of its kind in the United States. Dollar Energy Fund is a 501 (c) 3 organization in the state of Pennsylvania. Since 1983, the organization has provided $163 million in utility assistance grants to more than 586,000 limited-income families and individuals.
The organization also assists limited-income households in West Virginia, Ohio, Virginia, Tennessee, Maryland, Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, Kentucky, California, Connecticut, Indiana and Nebraska. Individuals interested in contributing to Dollar Energy Fund can do so through their utility bills, by sending donations directly to Box 42329, Pittsburgh, PA 15203 or through the organization’s website.
Additional information can be found on Dollar Energy Fund’s website, www. dollarenergy. org .
Donate to Dollar Energy Fund Your contribution directly supports an individual or family facing a utility crisis. /* real people should not fill this in and expect good things - do not remove this or risk form bot signups */ Pittsburgh Penguins Partnership Recap: Supporting Neighbors in Need Dollar Energy Fund Mid-Year Review 18th Annual Warmathon raises $346,624 to help nearly 1,000 households stay warm
According to the current listing, eligibility includes: Eligibility and program terms vary by company, but typically require household income at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), consistent recent bill payments, and a temporary hardship. Confirm the full requirements in the official notice before applying.
The current listing shows typically up to $500. Verify award ceilings, matching requirements, and allowable costs in the official notice.
Utility Company Hardship Funds is funded by Local Utility Companies (e.g., Citizens' Electric Company, Duquesne Light Company, Met-Ed, Columbia Gas, PECO Energy, Aqua, Pennsylvania American Water). Verify program details on the funder's official page before applying.
Start from the official opportunity page linked in this listing — it carries the sponsor's submission instructions.
DE-FOA-0003627 closes September 8, 2026, with $150 million across four topic areas and roughly 10 expected awards. Three topics fund enhanced recovery and fracture diagnostics; one funds produced water treatment — the smallest pot at $24 million, and the one with the least crowded applicant field. Here is the full topic breakdown, the TRL 5-to-7 bar that disqualifies most lab-stage teams, the 20 percent cost share math, and why a companion $65.5 million NOFO closing September 22 changes how you should sequence two applications.
Read articleThe Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office's University Training and Research program funds coal, oil and gas, and geothermal R&D at U.S. colleges and universities — but every proposal must include a non-academic partner and must build training modules that outlive the award. The LOI deadline is October 1, 2026, with full applications 15 days later. Here is what that compressed window means and why the workforce framing changes what a competitive proposal looks like.
Read articleOn April 20, 2026, the White House declared grid, natural gas, LNG, petroleum, and coal 'essential to national defense,' unlocking DPA Title III loans, loan guarantees, and purchase commitments through DOE. Here is how this non-traditional financing works, who qualifies, why the September 30 sunset matters, and how energy companies and their supply chains should position now.
Read article