Behind on utility bills
Behind on Utility Bills? Where to Get Help Paying
Calm, practical steps to get caught up on electric, gas and water bills, and where to find official help in your state.
Email me updatesBy the ForLowerBills team · Last updated: October 14, 2026 · Sources checked: October 14, 2026
No paid links on this page. Every program we mention is free to apply for. ForLowerBills.com is an independent website, not a government agency. How we make money.
Falling behind on a utility bill is stressful, and it happens to a lot of families. The most important step is usually the hardest one: contacting your utility before the bill gets bigger. Below we walk through what to ask for, the official programs that help pay energy bills, and how to look up the shutoff rules where you live.
1. Call your utility first
Use the phone number on your bill or the utility's official website. Ask about a payment arrangement (spreading the past-due amount over several months), budget billing (an averaged monthly bill), low-income discounts, hardship funds, and whether a pending assistance application can pause a shutoff.
What to say: "I'm behind on my bill and I want to get caught up. What payment arrangements do you offer? Do you have a low-income discount or hardship program? I'm also applying for energy assistance. Can you note that on my account?"
Official sources
2. Apply for LIHEAP and Weatherization
The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is federally funded and run by states, territories and Tribes. It can help eligible households with heating and cooling bills and energy crises. Funding and application periods vary by state, so apply as early as you can.
The Weatherization Assistance Program provides free energy-saving improvements to eligible homes, which can lower bills for years.
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From ForLowerBills.com · General information only, not legal, medical, tax or financial advice.
3. Know your state's shutoff protections
Shutoff rules are set state by state, mostly by each state's public utility commission, and they generally apply to regulated utilities, not always to co-ops, city-owned utilities or fuel dealers. The federal LIHEAP Clearinghouse keeps a state-by-state summary (last updated July 20, 2026) of weather-based protections, medical protections and contact details for each state's commission.
Many states let you postpone a shutoff with a medical certificate from a doctor if someone in the home is seriously ill or would be endangered by losing service. Rules and time limits differ, so check your state's entry and ask your utility.
Important: protections usually delay a shutoff; they don't erase what you owe. The Clearinghouse notes that utilities keep billing during protected periods, so use the time to set up a plan and apply for help. Heading into the cold months? See our Winter Utility Shutoff Help guide.
4. Other help that can free up money
- 211: call 211, or visit 211.org (opens in a new tab), for local utility assistance, charities and emergency funds.
- Lifeline: up to $9.25 a month off phone or internet for eligible households. FCC: Lifeline (opens in a new tab)
- SNAP: food assistance can free up cash for bills. USDA SNAP state directory (opens in a new tab)
- Lower your usage: our electric bill guide has free fixes that start saving right away.
5. Watch out for shutoff scams
The FTC warns that scammers pretend to be your utility and threaten same-day shutoff unless you pay immediately. Real utilities won't demand payment by gift card, wire transfer, cryptocurrency, payment app, or a barcode or QR code you take to a store. Hang up and call the number on your bill.
Get updates: Behind on Utility Bills checklist
Related guides
FAQ
Can my utility shut off my service in winter or during a heat wave?
It depends on your state and your utility. The LIHEAP Clearinghouse lists each state's weather-based and medical protections and the commission to contact. Protections usually delay a shutoff but don't cancel what you owe.
How do I apply for LIHEAP?
LIHEAP is run by states, territories and Tribes. Start at the ACF LIHEAP page or call 211 to find your local office. Funding is limited and periods vary, so apply early.
Do shutoff protections apply to co-ops and city utilities?
Often not. The LIHEAP Clearinghouse notes state rules generally apply to utilities regulated by the state commission. Municipal utilities, rural co-ops and fuel dealers may have their own policies, so ask them directly.
Someone called saying my power will be cut off in an hour unless I pay. Is it real?
The FTC says that's a common scam. Hang up, don't pay by gift card, wire, crypto, app or barcode, and call the number on your bill.
Disclaimers
General information only, not legal, medical, tax or financial advice.
- ForLowerBills.com is an independent website. We are not a government agency, a law firm or a debt-relief company, and we don't charge for any of this information.
- Programs, income limits and rules change. Always confirm the current details on the official site before you act.
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We hope this helps. — the ForLowerBills team