Help Paying Power Bills in Cullman County, AL

ABC Trust (Alabama Business Charitable Trust Fund)

Helps pay heating and cooling bills through local community action agencies.

Who

Low-income families and households facing temporary financial problems.

Good to know

Apply through your county community action agency (agency finder: https://caaalabama.org/resources/agency-finder/). Funded by Alabama Power shareholders.

Arab Electric Cooperative

Electric service with prepay option and payment options; no bill-assistance program listed online - call to ask about extensions.

Who

Members of the cooperative; hardship/elderly/disabled members for assistance funds.

Where

331 S. Brindlee Mtn. Pkwy., Arab, AL 35016

Good to know

Counties from co-op homepage. TVA-supplied co-op; can refer to Project SHARE (co-ops participate). Ask the co-op about payment extensions and medical/life-support flags; Alabama PSC Rule 12(E) does not regulate co-op disconnect rules, each co-op's own board policy applies.

Committee on Church Cooperation (Cullman)

Volunteer coalition of about 17 Cullman churches that helps with utility bills, rent and prescription medicine; walk-in interviews Tue & Thu 9am-noon (no phone interviews).

Who

Cullman County families in financial crisis; apply in person

Where

1220 St. Joseph St NW, Cullman 35055

Good to know

Office is inside the Cullman County DHR building (per Cullman Tribune, 2019); needhelppayingbills lists 708 9th St SE. Confirm location and hours by phone.

Cullman Electric Cooperative - H.U.G. & bill assistance list

Home Utility Gift (H.U.G.) lets others pay toward a member's bill; levelized billing, SmartPAY prepaid; posts local bill-help agency list; Mon-Fri 7:30am-4pm.

Who

Members of the cooperative; hardship/elderly/disabled members for assistance funds.

Where

1749 Eva Road NE, Cullman, AL 35055

Good to know

Operation Round Up here funds teacher grants only (not bills). Local referrals listed: Committee on Church Cooperation 256-739-1578 (Tue/Thu 9-noon), St. Vincent de Paul 256-737-5131, Community Action Cullman 256-734-5170. Counties approximate. Ask the co-op about payment extensions and medical/life-support flags; Alabama PSC Rule 12(E) does not regulate co-op disconnect rules, each co-op's own board policy applies.

Cullman Power Board

Municipal TVA power distributor; ask about payment extensions, budget billing and local customer-funded aid.

Who

Customers in the service area.

Where

106 2nd Avenue NE, Cullman, AL 35055

Good to know

Cullman city limits; rural Cullman Co. is Cullman EC (see its local bill-help list). Contact from TVA local power company directory; no assistance program verified online - refer to CAPNA/community action for LIHEAP.

Project SHARE (Alabama Power / Salvation Army) - statewide line

Project SHARE

Emergency winter (and summer, if funds allow, for medical emergencies) power-bill help funded by Alabama Power customer donations; also serves rural electric co-op customers.

Who

Low-income Alabamians age 60+ and/or disabled.

Where

PO Box 11005, Birmingham, AL 35202 (donations)

Good to know

Apply at the local Project SHARE partner agency for your county (separate entries); call ext. 2 for the local office. Program page says 57 counties served.

St. Vincent de Paul Society of Cullman County

Thrift store and assistance office: help with rent (once per 12 months), utility and water bills, prescriptions (small yearly max), gas vouchers, clothing vouchers (monthly), furniture/household items for people moving into housing, cribs.

Who

Low-income Cullman County residents with no other resources

Where

217 Second Street SE, Cullman 35055

Good to know

Details from needhelppayingbills.com listings; confirm current limits by phone.

SVdP - Sacred Heart Conference (Cullman)

SVdP

Emergency assistance for Cullman parish area.

Who

Low-income people living in the conference's parish ZIP area; usually a phone intake then home visit; limited funds.

Where

201 3rd Ave SE, Cullman 35055

Good to know

No phone found; call Sacred Heart parish.

The Salvation Army Walker County Service Center

Emergency assistance (rent/utilities/food) and Project SHARE power-bill help; call for hours.

Who

Low-income households in crisis in the service area; ID, proof of address/income and the past-due bill or lease usually required; aid depends on available funds.

Where

207 20th St E, Jasper 35501

Good to know

Counties from Salvation Army ALM division location directory (salvationarmyusa.org/usa-southern-territory/alabama-louisiana-and-mississippi/location-directory/). Covers the outlying counties as its service area; residents of Blount/Cullman/Marion/Marshall/Winston should call Jasper.

Alabama Public Service Commission - utility complaints & disconnect rules

Takes complaints about PSC-regulated utilities (Alabama Power, Spire); PSC General Rule 12(E) requires termination rules giving special consideration when life/health is threatened or for age/handicap.

Who

Customers of investor-owned utilities (not co-ops, municipal or most water boards).

Good to know

Rule 12(E) summary from LIHEAP Clearinghouse vulnerable-population disconnect page (liheapch.ncat.org/node/2812). PSC phone not verified here - see website.

LIHEAP energy assistance

Community Action Partnership of North Alabama

Federal energy help paid straight to the power or gas company. Every Alabama county is served by a Community Action Agency that takes the applications.

Who

Income at or under 150% of the federal poverty level. Heating season: Oct 1 – Apr 30.

Where

1909 Central Pkwy SW, Decatur 35601

Good to know

Office line: 256-355-7843. This is the LIHEAP agency for Cullman County (ADECA list).

Bring

• Photo ID
• Social Security cards for everyone in the home
• Last month's income proof for every adult
• Utility bill in the applicant's name

ABC Trust energy help

Alabama Business Charitable Trust (Alabama Power)

Emergency help with energy bills, given out through the county LIHEAP agency.

Who

Low-income households or those in temporary hardship

Alabama electric cooperatives (AREA)

Alabama Rural Electric Association

Points co-op members to their local electric cooperative for billing help.

Who

Members of Alabama electric cooperatives

Alabama Power low-income bill credit

Alabama Power

A $14.50 monthly credit on the power bill.

Who

Alabama Power customers receiving SSI or Medicaid for Low Income Families

Alabama Power Special Needs Assistance

Alabama Power

Due dates matched to benefit check dates, Braille or large-print bills, and services for deaf customers.

Who

Alabama Power customers with special needs or on monthly government checks

Project SHARE

Salvation Army of Greater Birmingham

Emergency help with power bills for older and disabled Alabamians, funded by Alabama Power customers and electric co-ops.

Who

Age 60+ or a person with a disability

Public Service Commission consumer complaints

Alabama Public Service Commission

Takes complaints about regulated power, gas, water and phone utilities after the customer has tried the utility.

Who

Customers of PSC-regulated utilities

United Way 2-1-1

Free, 24/7 referral line. Finds the smaller church and community funds near their address that open up week to week. Also 1-888-421-1266, or text a ZIP code to 898-211.

Who

Anyone

Weatherization

Community Action Partnership of North Alabama

Free home energy upgrades like insulation and air sealing that lower bills going forward. The state line routes them to their county's agency.

Who

Income at or under 200% of the federal poverty level

Where

1909 Central Pkwy SW, Decatur 35601

Good to know

Office line: 256-355-7843.