Help Paying Power Bills in Lamar County, AL

14 programs for electric bill help, shutoff notices and LIHEAP in Lamar County, Alabama, including 5 local options. Phone numbers, who qualifies and what to bring. Call first: funding opens and closes.

Local in Lamar County (5)

ABC Trust (Alabama Business Charitable Trust Fund)

Local · 57 Alabama counties

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

No phone listed · Website ↗
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.

Project SHARE (Alabama Power / Salvation Army utility assistance)

Project Share

Local · 52 Alabama counties

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

(205) 328-2420
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

Local · 57 Alabama counties

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.

(205) 328-2420 ext. 2
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 - Community Service Programs of West Alabama - Vernon

Project SHARE

Local · Lamar County, AL

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

205-695-9573
Who
Low-income residents age 60+ and/or disabled; bring ID, bill/cutoff notice, proof of income.
Where
141 2nd Ave. NW, Vernon, AL 35592
Good to know
Listed as the Project SHARE partner agency on the Salvation Army Project SHARE county table.

Alabama Public Service Commission - utility complaints & disconnect rules

Local · 67 Alabama counties

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.

No phone listed · Website ↗
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.

Statewide programs that serve Lamar County (9)

LIHEAP energy assistance

Community Service Programs of West Alabama

Statewide, AL

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.

833-836-7817
Who
Income at or under 150% of the federal poverty level. Heating season: Oct 1 – Apr 30.
Where
601 Black Bears Way, Tuscaloosa 35401
Good to know
Office line: 205-752-5429. Clients 60 and older can call 205-469-0386. This is the LIHEAP agency for Lamar 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)

Statewide, AL

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

Ask the LIHEAP agency above
Who
Low-income households or those in temporary hardship

Alabama electric cooperatives (AREA)

Alabama Rural Electric Association

Statewide, AL

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

1-800-410-2732
Who
Members of Alabama electric cooperatives

Alabama Power low-income bill credit

Alabama Power

Statewide, AL

A $14.50 monthly credit on the power bill.

1-800-245-2244
Who
Alabama Power customers receiving SSI or Medicaid for Low Income Families

Alabama Power Special Needs Assistance

Alabama Power

Statewide, AL

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

1-800-245-2244
Who
Alabama Power customers with special needs or on monthly government checks

Project SHARE

Salvation Army of Greater Birmingham

Statewide, AL

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

(205) 328-2420
Who
Age 60+ or a person with a disability

Public Service Commission consumer complaints

Alabama Public Service Commission

Statewide, AL

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

1-800-392-8050
Who
Customers of PSC-regulated utilities

United Way 2-1-1

Anywhere

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.

2-1-1
Who
Anyone

Weatherization

Community Service Programs of West Alabama

Statewide, AL

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

833-836-7817
Who
Income at or under 200% of the federal poverty level
Where
601 Black Bears Way, Tuscaloosa 35401
Good to know
Office line: 205-752-5429. Clients 60 and older can call 205-469-0386.

Other help in Lamar County