Energy Assistance

  • Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP):LIHEAP, a federally funded program, provides grants to states to assist low-income households, including seniors, with heating and cooling costs. 
  • Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) (Massachusetts):This state program, also known as Fuel Assistance, helps eligible households pay a portion of their winter heating bills, with payments made directly to the utility or heating vendor. 
  • Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP):WAP provides eligible households, including seniors, with home energy conservation services like insulation, weather stripping, and furnace tune-ups to reduce energy consumption. 
  • Heating System Repair & Replacement Program (HEARTWAP) (Massachusetts):This program provides emergency heating system repairs or replacements for low-income homeowners, including seniors. 
  • Electric Assistance Program (EAP) (New Hampshire):EAP provides monthly discounts on electric bills for income-eligible customers, including seniors, to help prevent service interruptions. 
  • Salvation Army Good Neighbor Fund (Massachusetts):This fund assists eligible consumers with utility bills, including seniors. 
  • Local Community Action Agencies: Many local community action agencies, like North Shore Community Action Programs (NSCAP) in Massachusetts and Rockingham County Community Action (CAPHR), administer HEAP and other energy assistance programs. 
  • Cold Relief Heatline - For general inquiries, call 1-800-632-8175. See below to find out where to apply for Fuel Assistance (LIHEAP), Weatherization (WAP), and the Heating System Repair and Replacement Program (HEARTWAP).
  • ABCD Fuel Assistance (LIHEAP): November 1, 2021 - May 12, 2023 - ABCD offers the LIHEAP program which can provide help paying for fuel bills for low-income individuals. Visit www.bostonabcd.org for General Information. For any existing participants (people who applied last season), ABCD will begin mailing out applications by the end of the September. For first time applicants, ABCD asks that you please call 781-322-6284 starting, October 1, where they will take applications over the phone. NEW this year an online portal available for clients that wish to apply online, visit www.toapply.org/MassLIHEAP to apply.  Income Guidelines: 1 person $40,951 and 2 person $53,551. Contact Social Worker at 781-721-7136 with additional questions or to learn more about the full list of programs offered by ABCD or for more detailed instructions on how to access the online portal.
  • Weatherization (WAP) and the Heating System Repair and Replacement Program (HEARTWAP) - The Weatherization Assistance Program is a year-round program funded by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) which serves LIHEAP-eligible households by providing energy efficiency services designed to help reduce home heating bills. Typical work includes air sealing, attic and/or sidewall insulation, weather stripping, and minor repairs associated with the weatherization work.  For more information call 617-884-6130 or visit www.capicinc.org/.
  • Warming Shelters during the winter - In the event you have no heat and need a warm place to shelter. The following warming shelters are available in Middlesex County:
  • MassSave - MassSave offers free in-home assessments to identify your home’s energy performance, reduce your energy bills, and make your home more comfortable. Call 866-527-SAVE (7283) to schedule your no-cost Home Energy Assessment with a Mass Save Energy Specialist or see www.masssave.com.
  • National Grid - To qualify for a free gas energy assessment, your household income must meet eligibility requirements and your utility bill must be in your name. Application and income guidelines available online at www.nationalgridus.com.
  • Eversource Discount Rate Program - To qualify for a free electric energy evaluation, your household income must meet eligibility requirements and your utility bill must be in your name. Application and income guidelines available online at www.eversource.com.
  • Arrearage Forgiveness - National Grid and Eversource also offer arrearage forgiveness programs where eligible clients may have their utility debt forgiven while adhering to a structured payment plan. NGRDI: 1-800-233-5325, EVERSOURCE: 866-315-2496.
  • Good Neighbor Energy Fund - To be eligible to receive energy assistance through The Massachusetts Good Neighbor Energy Fund, you must be a Massachusetts resident who, because of temporary financial difficulty, cannot meet a month's energy expense and is not eligible for state or federal energy assistance. For more information about eligibility requirements, please call 1-800-334-3047, 339-502-5900 or visit www.magoodneighbor.org.
  • JOE-4-OIL- The Oil Heat Program offers free heating oil to people in financial need. Each eligible household is allowed a one-time delivery per heating season of 100 gallons of home heating oil for free. Call 1-877-JOE-4-OIL to request an application.
  • Winchester Senior Energy Grants - For Winchester Residents who own and occupy their home, are 60 years of age, and whose income does not exceed $70,000 for individual and $80,000 for couple could be eligible, after completing an energy audit by MassSave, for a grant amount per project for up to $800 to make improvements on their homes energy efficiency. These grants, which are subsidized by the federal government and some local utilities, offer financial assistance as well as home improvements, new appliances, and other help for eligible clients – all at no cost. Call 781-721-4759 for details.
  • Utility Protection Information - There are utility protections for specific people such as the Elderly, seriously ill, infants.  Included are the Cromwell Waiver and Winter Moratorium. When facing termination of heating-related utility services, households can protect themselves if they meet certain conditions or criteria. Please contact your utility company for full details.

 

Energy Assistance

 

  • Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP):LIHEAP, a federally funded program, provides grants to states to assist low-income households, including seniors, with heating and cooling costs. 
  • Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) (Massachusetts):This state program, also known as Fuel Assistance, helps eligible households pay a portion of their winter heating bills, with payments made directly to the utility or heating vendor. 
  • Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP):WAP provides eligible households, including seniors, with home energy conservation services like insulation, weather stripping, and furnace tune-ups to reduce energy consumption. 
  • Heating System Repair & Replacement Program (HEARTWAP) (Massachusetts):This program provides emergency heating system repairs or replacements for low-income homeowners, including seniors. 
  • Electric Assistance Program (EAP) (New Hampshire):EAP provides monthly discounts on electric bills for income-eligible customers, including seniors, to help prevent service interruptions. 
  • Salvation Army Good Neighbor Fund (Massachusetts):This fund assists eligible consumers with utility bills, including seniors. 
  • Local Community Action Agencies: Many local community action agencies, like North Shore Community Action Programs (NSCAP) in Massachusetts and Rockingham County Community Action (CAPHR), administer HEAP and other energy assistance programs. 
  • Cold Relief Heatline - For general inquiries, call 1-800-632-8175. See below to find out where to apply for Fuel Assistance (LIHEAP), Weatherization (WAP), and the Heating System Repair and Replacement Program (HEARTWAP).
  • ABCD Fuel Assistance (LIHEAP): November 1, 2021 - May 12, 2023 - ABCD offers the LIHEAP program which can provide help paying for fuel bills for low-income individuals. Visit www.bostonabcd.org for General Information. For any existing participants (people who applied last season), ABCD will begin mailing out applications by the end of the September. For first time applicants, ABCD asks that you please call 781-322-6284 starting, October 1, where they will take applications over the phone. NEW this year an online portal available for clients that wish to apply online, visit www.toapply.org/MassLIHEAP to apply.  Income Guidelines: 1 person $40,951 and 2 person $53,551. Contact Social Worker at 781-721-7136 with additional questions or to learn more about the full list of programs offered by ABCD or for more detailed instructions on how to access the online portal.
  • Weatherization (WAP) and the Heating System Repair and Replacement Program (HEARTWAP) - The Weatherization Assistance Program is a year-round program funded by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) which serves LIHEAP-eligible households by providing energy efficiency services designed to help reduce home heating bills. Typical work includes air sealing, attic and/or sidewall insulation, weather stripping, and minor repairs associated with the weatherization work.  For more information call 617-884-6130 or visit www.capicinc.org/.
  • Warming Shelters during the winter - In the event you have no heat and need a warm place to shelter. The following warming shelters are available in Middlesex County:
  • MassSave - MassSave offers free in-home assessments to identify your home’s energy performance, reduce your energy bills, and make your home more comfortable. Call 866-527-SAVE (7283) to schedule your no-cost Home Energy Assessment with a Mass Save Energy Specialist or see www.masssave.com.
  • National Grid - To qualify for a free gas energy assessment, your household income must meet eligibility requirements and your utility bill must be in your name. Application and income guidelines available online at www.nationalgridus.com.
  • Eversource Discount Rate Program - To qualify for a free electric energy evaluation, your household income must meet eligibility requirements and your utility bill must be in your name. Application and income guidelines available online at www.eversource.com.
  • Arrearage Forgiveness - National Grid and Eversource also offer arrearage forgiveness programs where eligible clients may have their utility debt forgiven while adhering to a structured payment plan. NGRDI: 1-800-233-5325, EVERSOURCE: 866-315-2496.
  • Good Neighbor Energy Fund - To be eligible to receive energy assistance through The Massachusetts Good Neighbor Energy Fund, you must be a Massachusetts resident who, because of temporary financial difficulty, cannot meet a month's energy expense and is not eligible for state or federal energy assistance. For more information about eligibility requirements, please call 1-800-334-3047, 339-502-5900 or visit www.magoodneighbor.org.
  • JOE-4-OIL- The Oil Heat Program offers free heating oil to people in financial need. Each eligible household is allowed a one-time delivery per heating season of 100 gallons of home heating oil for free. Call 1-877-JOE-4-OIL to request an application.
  • Winchester Senior Energy Grants - For Winchester Residents who own and occupy their home, are 60 years of age, and whose income does not exceed $70,000 for individual and $80,000 for couple could be eligible, after completing an energy audit by MassSave, for a grant amount per project for up to $800 to make improvements on their homes energy efficiency. These grants, which are subsidized by the federal government and some local utilities, offer financial assistance as well as home improvements, new appliances, and other help for eligible clients – all at no cost. Call 781-721-4759 for details.
  • Utility Protection Information - There are utility protections for specific people such as the Elderly, seriously ill, infants.  Included are the Cromwell Waiver and Winter Moratorium. When facing termination of heating-related utility services, households can protect themselves if they meet certain conditions or criteria. Please contact your utility company for full details.

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