Help Paying Power Bills in Jefferson County, AL

LIHEAP Crisis

Community Action Agency of Northeast Alabama

Federal energy help paid straight to the power or gas company. Crisis help is for households facing a shutoff. Book the appointment first; the application is done at the appointment.

Who

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

Amount

Winter crisis was up to $1,100 last season

Email

communityactionagency@caaneal.org

Good to know

JCCEO no longer runs LIHEAP in Jefferson County. Send people here.

Bring

• Photo ID of the applicant
• Social Security cards for everyone in the home
• Last month's income proof for every adult over 18
• Utility bill in the applicant's name

AIDS Alabama

Emergency utility assistance.

Who

Household with an HIV+ member, within 300% of the federal poverty level, with an open AIDS Alabama case file

Urban Ministry

Help with past-due utility bills, rent and prescriptions, plus the WE Cafe pay-as-you-can hot lunch weekdays 11:30-1:30. The largest Project SHARE intake site in Birmingham.

Who

Low-income Jefferson County residents. Project SHARE help is for 60+ or disabled.

Where

1229 Cotton Ave SW, Birmingham 35211 (West End)

Good to know

Does not cover disconnect fees or phone bills.

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.

American Red Cross

Birmingham chapter

Emergency help with utilities and rent for low-income residents, plus food and clothing.

Who

Low-income Birmingham-area residents

Where

114 22nd St S, Birmingham

Birmingham Urban League

Has run rent and utility assistance; call to ask what is open now.

Who

Low-income households

Where

505 20th St N, Birmingham 35203

Good to know

2026 program status not confirmed.

Bridge Ministries

One-time emergency help with utilities, eviction prevention and deposits for people leaving shelters.

Who

Homeless or low-income City of Birmingham residents

Where

1016 19th St S, Birmingham 35205 (Southside Baptist Church)

Good to know

By appointment; bridgereferral@gmail.com. Confirm it is still running in 2026.

Catholic Center of Concern - Birmingham

Food, clothing, furniture and financial help; Mon-Thu from 8:30am, first come first served.

Who

Low-income individuals and families regardless of religion; call for intake.

Where

712 4th Ct W, Birmingham 35204

Good to know

Hours per UAB EEAP community resources page.

Eastern Area Christian Ministries

Food, clothing, diapers and utility assistance.

Who

Eastern Birmingham-area residents

Where

8000 2nd Ave S, Birmingham 35206

Good to know

Utility help is limited in how often a household can receive it.

Greater Birmingham Ministries

Help with utilities, medications and housing costs, a clothes closet, and a drive-up food day.

Who

Household income up to $37,010 a year; once per year

Where

2304 12th Ave N, Birmingham 35234

Email

info@gbm.org

Good to know

Financial help: call (205) 419-1817 at 9 AM on the first Wednesday of the month (not Jul, Dec or Jan); about 16 households a month. Photo ID for food.

Independent Presbyterian Church

outreach

Help with utility bills and prescriptions.

Who

Birmingham-area residents in need

Where

3100 Highland Ave, Birmingham 35205

Metro West Ministries

Financial help for western Birmingham metro residents, plus a food pantry Wednesdays 9 AM-12 PM.

Who

West Jefferson County residents

Where

4912 Lloyd Noland Pkwy, Fairfield 35064

Project SHARE (Alabama Power / Salvation Army utility assistance)

Project Share

Helps pay Alabama Power bills; apply at the listed agency for your county (Salvation Army office or community action agency).

Who

Alabama Power customers in crisis, priority to older adults (60+) and people with disabilities.

Where

2015 26th Ave N, Birmingham 35234

Good to know

County list = counties in the Project SHARE servicing-agency table (Alabama Power territory). Priority group is from general program info, confirm with agency.

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.

Project SHARE intake - Positive Maturity

Project SHARE

Takes Project SHARE applications for emergency power-bill help (Alabama Power and rural electric co-op customers), mainly winter and peak summer.

Who

Low-income residents age 60+ and/or disabled; bring ID, bill/cutoff notice, proof of income.

Where

106 Oxmoor Rd., Suite 152, Birmingham, AL 35209

Good to know

Listed as the Project SHARE partner agency on the Salvation Army Project SHARE county table.

Renew Birmingham

Utility and rent help, home and vehicle repair, lawn care.

Who

Residents of Ensley, Ensley Highlands, Tuxedo and Wylam only

Where

1801 Avenue H, Birmingham 35218

Email

info@renewbham.org

Salvation Army Bessemer

Utility and food assistance to qualified applicants, by appointment.

Who

Western Jefferson County residents

Where

525 13th St, Bessemer 35020

Good to know

Number is the Birmingham command line; ask for a Bessemer appointment.

Salvation Army emergency assistance

Greater Birmingham Area Command

Emergency help with utility bills and, when funds allow, rent or mortgage. Also runs the H2O and Project SHARE programs.

Who

Jefferson County residents who can show financial need

Where

2015 26th Ave N, Birmingham 35234

Serving You Ministries utility help

Utility bill help by appointment, Tue-Thu 9-1 and 1st Saturday.

Who

No utility help in past 6 months; proof of job or job loss; service must still be on

Where

6523 1st Ave N, Birmingham 35206

Good to know

Social Security income alone doesn't qualify.

Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Greater Birmingham Council

SVdP

Council of parish conferences in Jefferson County offering rent/mortgage, utility, deposit, medicine and food help when funds allow; usually a home visit.

Who

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

Where

3633 Gray Ave, Adamsville 35005

Good to know

Phone is a referral number from needhelppayingbills.com, not confirmed by SVdP; address from GoFundMe charity record. Conferences named elsewhere: St. Mark the Evangelist (Birmingham), Holy Infant of Prague (Trussville).

SVdP - St. Mark the Evangelist Conference (Birmingham)

SVdP

Eviction prevention: rent/mortgage, utility, food and medicine help after a home visit; veterans special projects.

Who

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

Good to know

Mailing: P.O. Box 380396, Birmingham 35238.

The Salvation Army Bessemer Corps / Service Center

Emergency assistance and Project SHARE power-bill help for western Jefferson County; 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

525 13th St N, Bessemer 35020

Good to know

Listed by Project SHARE as a Jefferson County servicing agency. Directory gives no county list; Bessemer/west Jefferson assumed.

The Salvation Army Birmingham Area Command (Social Services)

Salvation Army Birmingham

Emergency rent, mortgage and utility help plus Project SHARE power-bill help; social services Mon-Fri 8:30am-4:00pm.

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

2015 26th Ave N, Birmingham 35234

Good to know

Counties from Salvation Army ALM division location directory (salvationarmyusa.org/usa-southern-territory/alabama-louisiana-and-mississippi/location-directory/). Birmingham 614 Corps at same address: (205) 252-6616.

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.

Jefferson County Community Services Housing Rehabilitation

Jefferson County CDBG Consortium

CDBG housing rehab (electrical, plumbing, roofing, flooring, HVAC, doors, ramps, septic), emergency repair grants and Housing Accessibility grants (ramps, wider doors, grab bars).

Who

Income-eligible (<=80% median) owner-occupants 1+ year in Jefferson County outside Birmingham, Bessemer, Sumiton and Helena; no rentals

Weatherization

Community Action Agency of Northeast Alabama

Free home energy upgrades like insulation and air sealing that lower bills going forward.

Who

Income at or under 200% of the federal poverty level

Email

communityactionagency@caaneal.org

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