If you’re wondering how to get help with your Rhode Island electric bill, you’ve come to the right place! There are state energy assistance programs, local charities, and even options from your utility provider that can help you save money every month!
We’ve spent over 10 years researching low income assistance programs and ways that you can get help with your bills. In this article, we’re going to discuss Rhode Island’s energy assistance programs, an assortment of local churches and charities that can provide one-time assistance with your bill, and the options that your provider has available that can help you.
Rhode Island Energy Assistance Programs
The state offers several programs that can help you with your Rhode Island electric bill. These include LIHEAP, WAP, and more.
LIHEAP
The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) can help you pay for your heating and cooling costs every year. This program has two components.
The first part is Heating Assistance. This is available once per year to help you pay your heating costs. It can be paid to a fuel vendor or a utility company. It usually isn’t paid directly to you, although it appears that the state can issue those checks directly to you in very limited cases.
The second part is Crisis Assistance. This part is available if your utilities are at risk of shut-off because you couldn’t pay your bill.
In order to be eligible for LIHEAP, you must have a household income that is at or below 60% of the Area Median Income for Rhode Island. You do not need to be enrolled in any other means-tested programs. You don’t even need to have an unpaid bill!
To apply, you will need to contact your local Community Action Program. These agencies process applications and will help you figure out what you are eligible for. The application period for LIHEAP is usually between September and May every year. You can get more information from your local Community Action provider.
Weatherization Assistance Program
If you are eligible for LIHEAP, you may also be eligible for the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP). This program can help improve the energy efficiency of your home. By adding extra insulation and other services, this program can help your home stay cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.
These services can also drastically reduce the price of your Rhode Island electric bill over time. When we received WAP services in another state, our monthly utility bill decreased from $600 per month to $150 per month! Even though energy-efficient upgrades may not sound exciting at first, this program had a bigger impact over time than the LIHEAP program did for my family.
Applying for Weatherization Assistance is easy! You can apply with your local Community Action Program at the same time that you apply for LIHEAP. Applications for this program are accepted year-round. The only catch is that if you’re renting, you will need your landlord’s approval to receive these services.
Heating System Repair & Replacement Program
If you are eligible for LIHEAP, you may also be eligible for the Heating System Repair & Replacement Program if your heating system is old, damaged or inefficient. If your system cannot be repaired or made efficient, it may be replaced for free through this program.
In order to apply for HSRRP, you will need to contact your local Community Action Program.
Other Rhode Island Electric Bill Assistance Programs
The state isn’t the only place to get help with your Rhode Island electric bill! There are additional resources available from your energy provider and more.
Home Energy Assessments
There are no-cost home energy assessments available throughout the state. This program will send an energy specialist to your home to evaluate your current energy use and help you figure out how to reduce your energy consumption.
This service is available to everyone, regardless of whether you are renting or own your home. It does not appear that this program has any income limits, although that may vary by provider.
In order to apply for this assistance, you will need to contact your energy provider to discover the next steps. Here’s a list of links, depending on who your energy provider is:
Good Neighbor Energy Fund
The United Way offers a Good Neighbor Energy Fund that can help Rhode Island residents pay their electric bills. If you’ve been affected by a temporary financial crisis and need some support, this is a great place to go for assistance.
This program is available to Rhode Island residents who have a total household income that is 300% of the Federal Poverty Level for their household size. In 2023, that’s around $40,770 for a single person, $54,930 for a couple, or $83,250 for a family of four.
In order to receive assistance from the Good Neighbor Energy Fund, you will need to provide the following documentation:
- Photo ID
- Proof of Income
- Proof of Household Members
- Current heating bill
- Proof of financial hardship
You can only receive help from this fund once per year. In fact, if you receive help one year, you’ll have a harder time getting help the next year. The fund will expect you to to prove that you are experiencing an extenuating financial hardship in order to receive assistance again in the second year.
To apply for help from the Good Neighbor Energy Fund, you will need to contact your local Community Action Program. It appears that Community Action providers manage this fund on behalf of the United Way.
Keep the Heat On
The Diocese of Providence Rhode Island manages a fund called Keep the Heat On. This program can provide energy assistance for low income Rhode Island residents who need help paying their oil, natural gas, or electric heating bills. You do not have to be Catholic in order to receive assistance.
This is a program of last resort. That means that you have to try all other state, federal or private heating assistance before you can get help from Keep the Heat On. This program will verify that you are ineligible or have already used assistance from other funds before they will help you.
In order to be eligible, you will need to provide proof of the following:
- Current utility bill
- Current contact info for your utility provider
- Total household income
- Housing costs
- LIHEAP award or denial letter
- Good Neighbor Energy Fund award or denial letter
You will need to gather all of your documentation and submit it with your application. You can download the application from the Keep the Heat On website. After you submit your paperwork, the Diocese of Providence’s Office of Catholic Charities and Social Ministries will contact you to set up an appointment. It’s very important that you keep that appointment so that you can get the help that you need.
Amos House
Amos House in Providence is a great resource for low income residents, especially if you need help with your Rhode Island electric bills. This organization can provide assistance with utilities, rent, hygiene kits, and so much more. It’s a wonderful resource.
In order to get help, you will need to email them at [email protected] in order to get started. You can also call them using the phone number in the sidebar of their website.
Jewish Collaborative Services
The Case Managers at Jewish Collaborative Services may also be able to help you find assistance with your Rhode Island electric bills. This service can sometimes offer direct financial assistance with utilities, housing and medical expenses.
However, even if they cannot help you directly, they can refer you to other organizations that may be able to help. This is a great place to start if you are overwhelmed and not sure how to connect with these other resources on your own.
In order to get started with this service, you will need to email them at [email protected] or call them using the phone number on their website.
St. Vincent de Paul
The St. Vincent de Paul Society usually provides assistance with electric bills and other emergency needs. For more information about how this works in Rhode Island, you will need to contact St. Vincent de Paul and Our Lady of Czenstochowa for more information.
According to the resource directories I reviewed, it appears that this service is limited to Bristol County, Kent County, Newport County, Providence County and Washington County.
Get Extra Help from Your Provider
Often, the electric companies themselves offer helpful services like payment arrangements, budget billing, and sometimes even bill discounts. If you’re struggling to pay your Rhode Island electric bill, choose your provider from the list below to find more ways that you can save money and get help with your bill.
National Grid
Do you struggle to pay your National Grid bill? There are options available! We found ways you can lower your bill with energy assessments and rebates. You can also get help with budget billing and payment arrangements. To see everything we’ve learned about National Grid, check this out.
Summary
There are many ways to get help with your Rhode Island electric bill! This article has reviewed state-specific programs like LIHEAP, WAP and HSRRP. Other assistance options, like the Good Neighbor Energy Fund, have also been discussed. If you need help paying your bill, the resources included here should help!
Nicole Thelin
Nicole is the founder and lead researcher of Low Income Relief. After a personal experience with poverty and homelessness following her husband's sudden medical discharge from the U.S. Army, Nicole discovered the life-changing impact of community resources. This experience ignited her passion for empowering others to navigate similar crises. Nicole launched her writing career at age 16, working for various newspapers and publications. Her commitment to in-depth research and accessible content has been recognized by Google for Publishers and other industry leaders. For over 20 years, she has applied her investigative skills to uncover the most helpful, up-to-date information on benefits programs and community resources, ensuring Low Income Relief maintains the most extensive resource databases available.