Behind on Your Penn Power Bill? Here's What the Company Offers and Where Else to Turn.
Penn Power, a subsidiary of FirstEnergy, serves customers in western Pennsylvania. If you're behind on your electric bill, Penn Power and its parent company have several programs in place for customers dealing with hardship. Learn below about the options — some are run directly by FirstEnergy, others go through nonprofit partners. Knowing which program fits your situation saves time when you're already under pressure.
Call Before Disconnection
If your account is past due and you're worried about shutoff, calling Penn Power before service is cut off gives you more options than calling after. Payment arrangements let you set up installment payments on your past-due balance alongside your current bill, at a pace tied to what you can actually afford to pay.
For customers who are at least 60 years old, on a fixed pension or Social Security income, or receiving disability assistance, Penn Power also offers an Extended Due Date that pushes your monthly payment deadline to after your check arrives. Neither of these options requires a separate application — you call and work it out with a representative. Reach Penn Power's customer care center at 800-720-3600, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Full information on assistance programs is also at https://www.firstenergycorp.com/help/billingpayments/assistance_serviceprogram.html.
PCAP — Pennsylvania Customer Assistance Program
Penn Power's Customer Assistance Program, known as PCAP, is the main long-term relief option for low-income customers. If your gross household income is at or below 150% of the federal poverty level, PCAP sets your monthly electric bill to a reduced amount based on your income and usage rather than the full rate. It also works down your past-due balance over time as long as you keep making payments.
- Enrollment and recertification for PCAP go through the Dollar Energy Fund, and you can start an application at https://www.pabillassist.com/ or by calling Dollar Energy Fund at 1-888-282-6816. Note that PCAP customers are not eligible to participate in competitive electric supplier programs while enrolled — that's worth knowing if you've been shopping electricity rates.
One useful thing to know: when you apply for LIHEAP through the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, you can opt in to let DHS share your application data with your utility company. If you do, FirstEnergy can use that information to identify whether you qualify for PCAP and reach out directly. It's not automatic — you have to check the opt-in box — but it removes the step of having to apply separately.
Dollar Energy Fund Hardship Grant
Separate from PCAP, the Dollar Energy Fund also administers a one-time hardship grant for Penn Power customers who have an outstanding balance on their account and are at risk of disconnection. To be eligible you generally need to have paid at least $150 toward your account in the past three months, though exceptions exist for genuine hardship cases. Seniors 62 and older have a somewhat different set of conditions. Grants are issued once per program year, so timing matters.
Apply through Dollar Energy Fund's online portal or by calling 1-888-282-6816. The fund also works through community-based organizations statewide — use their agency finder to locate intake services in your county.
Project REACH — Emergency Hardship Fund
Project REACH is Penn Power's emergency fund for customers hit by a sudden financial crisis — job loss, illness, a death in the family. It's a short-term, one-time grant funded by contributions from Penn Power customers, company employees, and FirstEnergy shareholders, and distributed by the Salvation Army in Penn Power's service area - see details on Salvation Army assistance programs in Pennsylvania.
Because it's donation-funded, the amount available varies and it's not guaranteed year-round. For information on whether funds are currently available and how to apply, call Penn Power at 800-720-3600, which will connect you to the appropriate referral.
CARES — Customer Assistance and Referral Evaluation Services
CARES isn't a grant program — it's a connection program. Penn Power's CARES representatives work with customers who are in a difficult payment situation and connect them to social agencies, community action organizations, and other assistance resources in their area. It's particularly relevant for seniors, people with disabilities, and anyone who doesn't know where to start. To reach FirstEnergy's Human Services Department for CARES, call 1-888-406-8074.
Medical Protections
If someone in your household has a serious medical condition that requires continued electric service, a licensed physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant can submit a medical certification to Penn Power on your behalf. This provides certain protections against disconnection while the certification is in effect, though you're still expected to keep up with your current bill during that period.
Penn Power also has a Critical Care Program for households where someone uses electrically operated life-sustaining equipment — a service interruption would be immediately dangerous. Call 800-720-3600 to get the medical certification form or discuss Critical Care designation.
Military Deferred Payment
If a member of your household is on active military duty, Penn Power can defer all or part of your monthly electric bill while they're deployed. When they return, a payment arrangement is set up to cover the deferred amount. This requires documentation of active duty status.
Budget Billing
Penn Power's Budget Billing (also called Equal Payment Plan) spreads your projected annual electric costs into equal monthly payments, taking the seasonal spike out of winter bills. There's no income requirement — any Penn Power residential customer can enroll. The balance is reconciled quarterly and annually against your actual usage. Enroll through your Penn Power account online or by calling customer service.
LIHEAP and Weatherization
Pennsylvania's LIHEAP program and the state's weatherization programs are the main government resources for Penn Power customers who can't afford their heating costs. Full details — including how to apply, what the income limits are, and what each program covers — are on the Pennsylvania LIHEAP and Weatherization page.
A Note on Electric Choice Scams
Pennsylvania allows customers to choose their own electric generation supplier, which is useful — but it also creates an opening for scammers. A common scheme involves callers claiming to be conducting a "verification" or offering a discount on your Penn Power bill, then using your account information or a verbal confirmation on the recorded call to switch you to a different, often more expensive, supplier without your real consent.
Penn Power handles the delivery of your electricity regardless of who your supplier is, so any caller claiming to be from "Penn Power" and asking about your supplier or rate plan should be treated with caution. If you're ever unsure whether a change was made to your account, call Penn Power directly at 800-720-3600 to check.
This page provides general educational information about assistance programs available to Penn Power customers. It is not legal or financial advice. Program details, grant amounts, eligibility rules, and funding availability change. Confirm current information directly with Penn Power, Dollar Energy Fund, or the relevant assistance organization before acting on anything described here.
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