Bill Assistance

Lower your bill.
Programs that help right now.

Federal and state programs that reduce your electricity costs directly — before you spend a dollar on solar.

$4.05BLIHEAP 2026 funding
$14,000Max IRA rebates
$6,500Avg WAP upgrade value
Benefits screener

See which programs
you qualify for.

Anonymous — nothing is saved. Answers stay in your browser. Results are estimates; final eligibility is determined by your state and program administrator.

Benefits Screener
See which federal energy programs you may qualify for.

Anonymous — nothing is saved. Answers stay in your browser. Results are estimates; final eligibility is determined by your state and program administrator.

Program 1 — All 50 States

LIHEAP — direct help
paying your bill.

Sol Country take
LIHEAP is one of the least known and most valuable programs in the US. If your household income is below 150% of the federal poverty level, apply before doing anything else.

LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) provides federally funded direct payments toward your electricity and heating bills. It also covers energy crises — if your service is at risk of being cut off, LIHEAP can intervene immediately.

Who qualifies
  • Household income below 150% of federal poverty level
  • Renters and homeowners both eligible
  • You don't need to be the account holder (anyone in household can apply)
  • Benefits are tax-free and don't affect other assistance
How to apply

Find your local LIHEAP office at benefits.gov or call 211 — the national social services helpline.

Find your local LIHEAP office
Find LIHEAP in my state →
$4.05B
2026 federal funding
150%
Poverty level limit
All 50
States with LIHEAP
Program 2 — Free Home Upgrades

Free home weatherization
through WAP.

The Weatherization Assistance Program provides free home energy upgrades — insulation, air sealing, HVAC replacement, and more — to income-qualified households. The average household receives $6,500 in improvements and saves $283/year permanently.

Renters
Renters are eligible with landlord permission. If you rent, ask your landlord to allow WAP work — it increases the property value at no cost to them.
Automatically eligible

If your household already receives SSI, SNAP, or TANF you are automatically income-eligible in most states.

Find WAP in my state →
$6,500
Average upgrade value
Average annual savings$283/yr
Poverty level limit200%
Program 3 — IRA Rebates

HOMES and HEAR
rebates — up to $14,000.

Two Inflation Reduction Act programs survived the 2025 federal tax credit termination — HOMES and HEAR. Unlike the old tax credits, these are direct upfront rebates not annual deductions.

HEAR — Appliance rebates
  • Heat pump: up to $8,000
  • Heat pump water heater: up to $1,750
  • Electric stove: up to $840
  • Electrical panel: up to $4,000
HOMES — Efficiency rebates

Up to $8,000 for income-qualified households who achieve measured energy savings through whole-home improvements.

Availability varies by state
Some states have fully deployed their allocation. Check your state energy office for current status.
Full DOE tracker — all states →
Up to $14,000
Total HEAR rebates
Up to $8,000
HOMES efficiency rebates
Program 4 — Ask Your Utility

Utility low-income
rate programs.

Almost every major US utility offers income-qualified discount rate programs. These reduce your bill by 20–35% automatically every month — with no installation and no equipment required. Most customers who qualify have never asked about it.

UtilityProgramDiscount
Xcel Energy (CO)REACHBill assistance for income-qualified customers
PG&E (CA)CARE20–35% discount
SCE (CA)CARE20% discount
EversourceLow-Income Discount RateVaries by state
ConEd (NY)Enhanced Low Income Program (ELIP)Up to 50% discount
Find low-income rate & bill assistance at your utility
How to apply

Call your utility's customer service line and ask about income-qualified rate programs. Most require proof of income or enrollment in SNAP, SSI, or Medicaid.

Program 5 — Free First Step

Free home
energy audits.

Before investing in solar or any other upgrade, a free home energy audit identifies exactly where you are losing money. Most major utilities offer free online or in-home audits that take 30–60 minutes and identify specific improvements.

Finding 01
Air leaks
$200–400/yr in wasted energy from gaps around doors, windows, and ducts.
Finding 02
Inefficient water heater
Aging or oversized units that quietly drive up your monthly bill.
Finding 03
Missing insulation
Under-insulated attics and walls that let heating and cooling escape.
Finding 04
Appliance energy waste
Older fridges, dryers, and electronics drawing far more than newer models.
Sealed — paid whole-home weatherization
Sealed manages the full weatherization process for you — insulation, air sealing, HVAC — with no upfront cost in some markets.
Learn about Sealed →
Program 6 — Get Paid by the Grid

Demand response — get
paid by the grid.

Some utilities pay residential customers to reduce their electricity usage during peak demand periods. If you have a smart thermostat, EV, or battery — you may already qualify.

OhmConnect
Available: TX, CA, NY
Earn points (converted to cash/gift cards) for reducing usage during OhmHours.
Best for: Any customer with smart devices
Visit site →
Xcel Renewable Battery Connect
Available: Colorado
Earn $250/kW upfront + $100/year for allowing Xcel to use your battery.
Best for: Colorado battery storage customers
Visit site →
Eversource ConnectedSolutions
Available: MA, NH, CT
Earn up to $4,300/year for battery participation during peak events.
Best for: Battery storage customers in New England
Visit site →
Sol Country pick

OhmConnect

Get paid to be a good grid citizen.

AvailableTX · CA · NY
Earnings$100–300+/year
Events10–30 per year (1–2 hrs each)
Cash outPayPal · gift cards · bill credit
How it works
1. Enroll your address → 2. Get alert before events → 3. Reduce usage + earn →
Enroll free →
Free to join. Available in TX, CA, and NY.

Not sure which programs
you qualify for?

Find My Power checks your address, income signals, and utility territory to surface every available program.

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