The Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program (CEAP) is a utility assistance program to assist low income households and meet their immediate energy needs. It provides assistance in an energy-related crisis or during severe weather or supply shortages. CEAP is available in all 254 counties. Throughout the year, the program also provides relief to low income households vulnerable to the high cost of energy for home heating and cooling from fluctuations in energy costs. The program intends to help residents pay their electric bill with financial assistance to pay 6-8 of your highest electricity bills during the year for non-vulnerable households. For vulnerable households, the program will pay your electric bill for the entire year.
Vulnerable Households
Texas uses a rating system which determines priority based on persons in households whom are particularly vulnerable such as the Elderly, Persons with Disabilities, Households with Young Children, Households with High Energy Burden, and Households with High Energy Consumption. Benefit amounts are determined on a sliding scale based on the Household’s income. Households with the presence of a vulnerable member such as the Elderly, Persons with Disabilities, and Households with Young Children do not have a limit on the number of benefit payments, but adhere to the same benefit amounts. The maximum benefit amount is determined per program year based on Household need, is split between heating and cooling assistance, and is not required to be applied equally to heating and cooling costs.
Eligibility for CEAP to Pay Electric Bills
One must be at or below 150% of Federal Poverty Guidelines. Texas residents who participates or has family members who receive SNAP, TANF, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or certain Means Tested Veterans Program payments, automatically meets the eligibility requirement.
In order to qualify, you must have an annual household income (before taxes) that is below the following amounts:
| Household Size* | Maximum Income Level (Per Year) |
|---|---|
| 1 | $21,870 |
| 2 | $29,580 |
| 3 | $37,290 |
| 4 | $45,000 |
| 5 | $52,710 |
| 6 | $60,420 |
| 7 | $68,130 |
| 8 | $75,840 |
*For households with more than eight people, add $7,710 per additional person.
Apply or Get Help with Electricity Bills
Call 877-399-8939 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, to connect with the CEAP service provider in your county. Or, visit Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs and select “Utility Bill Payment Help”, enter the county in which you live, and click “Find Help”.
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Other Programs to Help with Electricity Bills
Victims of Family Violence
If you are a victim of family violence, you are eligible to have your electric service deposit waived. To qualify, you need to provide a Texas Council on Family Violence deposit waiver certification letter. The letter will need to be submitted directly to your electric company. A copy of the deposit waiver certification letter is available at https://tcfv.org/findhelp/.
Waiver for Utility Service Deposit – English / Víctimas de violencia familiar – Español
Weatherization Assistance Program
The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs Weatherization Program offers qualified low-income Texans an energy audit to review your home’s energy efficiency and services to install weatherization measures to increase energy efficiency in your home.
A household qualifies if the income is at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty guidelines and their home must be able to benefit from being weatherized. After the households qualify, those with small children under the age of six, with elderly residents, with a disabled resident or households with the highest energy costs and lowest income will be given priority.
The Weatherization Program offers an audit of a qualified resident’s house to see if there are any air leaks or inefficient appliances that may be causing the household to pay more in energy costs than needed. Then, after the audit is completed, the program will give financial and installation assistance and to improve the energy efficiency of the home.
You can apply through your electricity provider. For more information, please contact the following, visit the TDHCA Weatherization program’s website at http://www.tdhca.state.tx.us/assist_repair.htm.