Utility and electric bill assistance programs in North Carolina.
A number of electric cooperatives, major investor-owned utilities, and government programs may help North Carolina residents who are struggling to pay their power, heating, or cooling bills. Programs vary by provider - some offer one-time crisis grants, others offer round-up donation funds that help with a range of emergency needs, and others provide year-round utility assistance for qualifying low-income customers. The resources, listed below, may sometimes be combined with NC specific utility company payment plans, energy conservation measures and other options.
Utility Company Assistance Programs
Albemarle Electric Membership Corporation administers Operation RoundUp through the Albemarle Community Trust (ACT). Members can elect to have their bill rounded up to the nearest dollar, with the difference going to ACT grants. Note that ACT funds are used for charitable community grants such as heating system repair, wheelchair purchase, repairs to an air conditioner and similar needs and are not used to pay electric bills directly. If you need help paying your electric bill, Albemarle EMC recommends contacting 2-1-1 for referrals to local energy assistance programs. Call 1-800-215-9915 or 252-426-5735.
Cape Hatteras Electric Cooperative runs the Cape Hatteras Electric Foundation (CHEF), funded by the Operation Round-Up program. Grants are available to members on Hatteras Island who are facing unusual or unexpected financial hardship and are in grave need of assistance. Grants may be used for shelter, health care, emergencies such as a broken furnace or AC unit and other humane needs — not limited to electric bills. Grant limits are up to $1,000 per individual or $2,500 per family or nonprofit organization per year. Call 252-995-5616 or 1-800-454-5616.
Carteret-Craven Electric Cooperative runs the Operation Roundup program, with funds placed into a foundation to help address unmet needs of individuals and organizations in the community. Apply for assistance through your local county Social Services Department. Call 252-247-3107 or 1-800-682-2217.
Central Electric Membership Corporation offers the Member Cares program, which uses customer donations to help members pay their heating bills, regardless of the type of fuel used. Funds are distributed by the Department of Social Services in the counties served by Central Electric (Chatham, Harnett, Lee, Moore, and Randolph). Call DSS at 919-774-4900 or 1-800-446-7752.
Dominion North Carolina Power offers EnergyShare, a year-round crisis assistance program available to any customer facing financial hardship, regardless of income. The program pays for any heating source - oil, gas, kerosene, wood, electricity, and others. Applications must be made through a local partner agency, not directly through Dominion. Call 2-1-1 or visit nc211.org to be referred to your local EnergyShare agency. For general account or billing questions, call Dominion at 1-866-366-4357. Seniors 60 and older may be eligible for additional assistance. The program typically runs October 1 through May 31, or until funds are exhausted. Learn more about various assistance programs from Dominion North Carolina Power.
Duke Energy customers in North Carolina may be eligible for several programs. Duke Energy Carolinas customers can apply for Share the Warmth, a heating bill assistance program funded by customers, employees, and the Duke Energy Foundation.
- Duke Energy Progress customers can also apply for the Energy Neighbor Fund (also called the Share the Light Fund), which assists customers at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty level who are facing a crisis. Duke Energy also offers a Fan/Heat Relief Program providing free fans to seniors and disabled residents, and a Cooling Assistance Program. The two subsidiaries are Duke Energy Progress and also Duke Energy Carolinas. Read more about Duke Energy assistance programs.
For both providers, struggling customers may also benefit from payment plans, budgeting billing, applications to government grant money and other solutions. For Duke Energy Progress, call 1-800-452-2777. For Duke Energy Carolinas, contact local partner agencies. Call 1-800-777-9898 for general customer service. Learn more at the Duke Energy assistance programs page.
Fayetteville Public Works Commission partners with the Cumberland County Salvation Army to administer the People Who Care program. Funded by PWC customer donations, this program helps area residents pay electricity bills throughout the year. Call the Cumberland County Salvation Army at 910-483-8119.
Haywood Electric Membership Corporation operates Project HEMC — Helping Each Member Cope — to assist families or individuals facing hardship paying energy costs due to extreme weather, loss of income, or unexpected crises. Assistance may also cover heating fuel such as gas, oil, or wood, not just the electric bill. Call 828-452-2281 to apply or learn more.
Lumbee River Electric Membership Corporation runs the LREMC Cares Energy Assistance Program. Member contributions help families experiencing a short-term crisis with their electric bill, as determined by local community service agencies. Recipients may receive up to $150 in assistance one time per year. Contact the agency in your county: Cumberland County — Fayetteville Urban Ministry, 910-483-5944; Hoke County — Senior Services of Hoke County, 910-875-8588; Robeson County — Robeson County Church & Community Services, 910-738-5204; Scotland County — Church & Community Services, 910-276-8330.
Piedmont Electric Membership Corporation offers the Helping Hand Foundation energy assistance program, which uses member donations to help less fortunate customers during crisis or emergency situations. For assistance, contact Piedmont Electric at 800-222-3107.
Piedmont Natural Gas operates Share the Warmth with customer and employee donations. Partner agencies distribute funds to provide direct financial assistance to low-income individuals and families using any type of energy — natural gas, propane, oil, electricity, coal, kerosene, or wood. Contact Crisis Assistance Ministry in Mecklenburg County at 704-371-3001, or your local social services agency. For general program information or to donate, call 1-800-752-7504. Read more about Piedmont Natural Gas assistance programs.
Randolph Electric Membership Corporation offers the People Helping People program. Member donations provide assistance to families and individuals in need with utility bills including heating, cooling, and other expenses. Call 1-800-672-8212.
Surry-Yadkin Electric Membership Corporation runs the Round Up Program, where customer and business donations help members facing a crisis situation — such as loss of a home to fire, job loss, or medical emergencies. Applications are available at the Surry-Yadkin EMC office in Dobson. Call 800-682-5903 or 336-356-8241.
The City of Rocky Mount offers the Winter Assistance for Rocky Mount (W.A.R.M.) program, administered by the Salvation Army from January through May. Donations from the community fund this program, which helps low-income elderly, disabled, or recently laid-off customers pay past-due heating expenses. Contact the Salvation Army of Rocky Mount at 252-446-4496.
Wake County provides two programs. Warmth for Wake offers financial support and firewood or space heaters to low-income families and individuals to help with heating costs during the winter. Cool for Wake provides fans and limited window air conditioning units to vulnerable residents — including seniors 60+ and households with children — during the summer. Or look here for possible other options for a free air conditioner. Both programs are funded by donations. Call Wake County Human Services at 919-212-7083 for either program. As another more localized option, look here for details on possible free AC units for seniors in Wake County
Wake Electric Membership Corporation operates Operation Round-Up. Households at 150 percent or less of the federal poverty level may be eligible for assistance with utility deposits and electric bills. Apply at your local county Department of Social Services or community action agency. Call Wake Electric at 919-863-6300 or toll-free 800-474-6300.
Government Assistance Programs
NC Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) and the Crisis Intervention Program (CIP) provide state and federally funded energy bill assistance. LIEAP provides a one-time vendor payment to help eligible households pay their heating bills, and CIP provides year-round emergency assistance for heating or cooling crises. Applications are handled through county Department of Social Services offices. Learn more about North Carolina low income energy bill assistance programs.
Heating costs may be addressed from other government options. During the winter some families, in particular those in the mountainous western North Carolina, may need some additional assistance for paying their heating bills. Some utility companies and the government may be able to provide low income customers the help they need. Get information about NC heating assistance, which are more dedicated, seasonal type resources.
Weatherization Assistance is available through local community action agencies to help low-income NC households become more energy-efficient. Services may include sealing air leaks, adding insulation, and repairing or replacing heating and cooling systems. Contact the NC Office of Economic Opportunity at 919-715-5850 or call your local community action agency.
Community Forum and Discussion
Readers can share experiences, ask questions, and get tips on finding help with NC utility bills at the NC utility assistance forum. The forum is moderated and may help struggling people find other options for utility help or they can find tips about conservation and other matters.
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