How to get help paying your heat and electric bills
Who this is for: Anyone struggling to pay for heat or electricity, or facing a shut-off.
Got a shut-off notice or are you out of heat?
Call 211 now (free, 24/7) and say your utility is being shut off or you have no heat. Also call your local Community Action Agency(below) — tell them it's urgent. Applying for Fuel Assistance can also protect you from a winter shut-off, so don't wait.
The two main programs
Fuel Assistance (LIHEAP)
Helps pay your heating costs — oil, gas, electric, propane, wood, or kerosene — no matter how you heat your home. It can pay some of your heating bill directly.
Electric Assistance Program (EAP)
Gives a discount on your monthly electric bill (for Eversource, Unitil, Liberty, and NHEC customers) based on your income and household size.
Apply for both at the same time
You apply for Fuel Assistance and the Electric Assistance Program at the same appointment, at the same place — your local Community Action Agency. One visit covers both.
Step by step
- 1
Find your local Community Action Agency
These programs are run locally, not through NH EASY. Find the agency for your town using the Community Action lookup or call 211 and ask which agency serves your area.
- 2
Call to set up an appointment
Call your agency and say you want to apply for Fuel Assistance. They'll set up an appointment (often by phone) and tell you what to bring. Ask about the Electric Assistance Program in the same call.
- 3
Gather your documents
You'll need proof of income for everyone in the home (recent pay stubs or benefit letters), Social Security numbers, and recent heating and electric bills. If you get SNAP or Medicaid, that can make qualifying easier.
- 4
Apply before the deadline
Fuel Assistance runs on a season. Applications typically open in the late summer/fall and close around April 30. Elderly people, people with disabilities, and families with young children can often apply earliest. Apply as soon as you can each year.
Other ways to lower the bill
- Ask your utility about payment plans. Eversource, Unitil, Liberty, and others offer budget billing and arrearage-forgiveness programs — call the number on your bill.
- Weatherization — Community Action Agencies can weatherize your home for free to lower future bills. Ask when you apply.
- Winter shut-off protection — NH limits winter disconnections for income-eligible households. Applying for Fuel Assistance helps trigger these protections.
- Call 211 for one-time emergency help with a past-due bill through local charities and churches.
Key contacts
Find your Community Action Agency
Apply for Fuel Assistance and Electric Assistance here. Enter your town to find the right office.
NH 211 — utility & shut-off help
Free, 24/7. Emergency utility help and the agency that serves your town.
NH Dept. of Energy — program info
Official Fuel Assistance details and the full list of Community Action Agencies.
Need help right now?
Call or text 988(Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), or reach NH Rapid Response 24/7 at 833-710-6477. For any emergency, call 911.