If you find yourself in a tight spot and unable to pay your Access Energy bill, you might be wondering if you have any options. Good news: we found options to help you pay your bill!
Need help paying your Access Energy bill? We found it!
The Recare program could help you pay for a portion of your bill. The program is offered through Access Energy and gives you a chance to have a reduced bill. Since the program is funded by other customers, funds may not always be available at all times. You’ll need to apply through Access Energy and the amount you receive is applied directly to your bill.
With LIHEAP, you can get help offsetting the cost of cooling or heating your home. When you use the program, you can get assistance toward your bill. The program works by giving you a voucher that you can apply directly to your bill. You must apply for the program through your local community action agency and you may only be able to apply certain times of the year.
Avoid shut off with these resources!
Catholic Charities provide help to low-income individuals throughout Southeast Iowa. The charity may help pay for a portion of your utility bill if funding is available. While you do not have to be a member of the Catholic church, it is important to remember this is a religious-based program. You will need to contact the agency and set up an appointment to fill out an application for help.
The Salvation Army offers a similar assistance program for those struggling to pay their Access Energy bill. You need to apply at the Salvation Army closest to you. If you’re approved, you’ll receive a voucher you can put directly toward your bill. You will need to provide proof of income, hardship or shut off notice to the Salvation Army. You may only be able to receive help once per year. The average highest amount you might be able to receive from the Salvation Army is $200.
Access Energy offers helpful payment options.
If you’re unable to pay your bill right now, you may be able to get payment arrangements from Access Energy. They look at these arrangements on a basis of each person who applies for them so make sure you present your case to the company. You must contact Access Energy to make the payment arrangements and they are not guaranteed.
To help reduce the need for large bills in the winter or summer months, you may qualify for budget billing. Budget billing can help make your bill more predictable by not causing huge surges each month when you use a lot of energy. You will be charged an average monthly amount based on the previous 12 months. At the end of the budget billing process, you’re responsible for any amount over the amount you already paid for. If you paid too much, the company may credit your account. Not every account will be approved for the budget billing program.
Peak pricing can help you lower your bill if you use energy during non-peak hours. If you run things like the washer or dishwasher after peak hours, you’ll save money. Access Energy uses peak pricing to help lower the bills and also help lower the energy load they use during peak hours.
Upgrade your home for free.
Iowa’s weatherization program helps you make your house more energy efficient. The program may pay for things like increased insulation to save you money on heating and cooling costs. It may also help you with increased energy efficiency through things like different light bulbs and appliances. In some cases, the weatherization program may even pay to upgrade your heating and cooling system so it uses less energy. You’ll have to apply for the program through your local community action organization.
Rebates are easy with Access Energy. On their site, they list different rebates they have going on so you can take advantage of them. Their rebates may help you pay for small appliances as well as light bulbs and other energy-efficient products. You can save as much as 50% on the products you might already be buying by checking the Access Energy site first.
If you need to upgrade your home or you need to replace appliances, check out the Access Energy loan program. Not all customers are qualified for the program and it is based on credit as well as your past history with Access Energy. You will need to apply for the program through Access Energy. The interest rate may change, but last we checked it was capped at 4.25%. The amount you pay will be based on how much you borrow. You can add the loan payment to your bill. Keep in mind, this is a loan that you must pay back.
By doing Access Energy’s free home audit on your energy usage, you can learn where you need to lower your energy usage. The audit is free, comprehensive and only takes a few minutes. After performing the audit, Access Energy will send you some tips guiding you on how to lower your energy in different areas around your home.
Community matters to Access Energy.
Since Access Energy is a part of the Touchstone Co-Op company, you can get big benefits from being a member. The co-op card comes with your membership in Access Energy and helps you get big discounts on things like groceries, entertainment and more. The co-op card is free. If you did not receive one when you started service or if you’ve lost it, you can contact Access Energy and they’ll send you a new card with your next bill!
The youth tour helps high schoolers learn more about energy and how it relates to politics. The point of the tour is allowing high schoolers to travel to Washington, D.C. so they can learn more about how energy has an impact. Each Touchstone co-op company gets to send 11th graders to the tour and it is an all expenses paid trip for those who qualify and who win the trip each year. Students need to be active in their community and show a strong interest in energy, politics or both.
Access Energy offers scholarships to students who plan on pursuing a career in the energy industry. They offer these scholarships so students get a chance to try something new without huge costs associated with college education. Access Energy also offers scholarships for students to attend lineman school!
Save even more on your Access Energy bill!
We love helping people save money. You can lower your bill and save yourself a lot of money by lowering your energy usage. Here are a few of our favorite things to do that help lower our bills. They could help lower yours too!
