Gas and Heating Bill Help in Lowndes County, AL

OCAP - Lowndes County Outreach Office

Local OCAP office: LIHEAP utility assistance, emergency help and referrals for Lowndes County.

Who

Low-income Lowndes County households

Good to know

County phone from needhelppayingbills.com directory; OCAP main office 334-566-1712 if no answer.

Southeast Gas (Southeast Alabama Gas District)

Natural gas for 36 communities in southeast Alabama; Payment/Financial Assistance and Budget Billing options listed in My Account.

Who

Southeast Gas customers.

Where

PO Box 1338, Andalusia, AL 36420

Good to know

Owner cities: Abbeville, Andalusia, Brundidge, Dothan, Elba, Enterprise, Eufaula, Fort Deposit, Greenville, Headland, Luverne, Opp, Ozark, Troy; counties derived from those cities.

The Salvation Army Demopolis Service Center (West Alabama Black Belt)

Emergency assistance; 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

900 US Highway 80 E, Demopolis 36732

Good to know

Counties from Salvation Army ALM division location directory (salvationarmyusa.org/usa-southern-territory/alabama-louisiana-and-mississippi/location-directory/). The old Selma listing now redirects to this Demopolis center; older Demopolis phone (334) 289-6090 seen in third-party lists.

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

Organized Community Action Program (OCAP)

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

507 N Three Notch St, Troy 36081

Good to know

This is the LIHEAP agency for Lowndes 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

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

Spire Alabama assistance

Spire Alabama (natural gas)

Waives the monthly charge for SSI households, DollarHelp toward gas bills, payment plans and budget billing.

Who

Spire customers; SSI households for the waiver; up to 300% of poverty for DollarHelp

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

Organized Community Action Program (OCAP)

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

507 N Three Notch St, Troy 36081