Help Paying Power Bills in Lowndes 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.

Central Alabama Electric Cooperative - Project Share

Member-funded Project Share pays energy bills directly for eligible households struggling with basic costs; plus billing/payment options.

Who

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

Where

103 Jesse Samuel Hunt Blvd., Prattville, AL 36066

Good to know

Toll-free (800) 545-5735; email support@coop.caec.com. Eligibility not posted online - call. Counties approximate (not confirmed on co-op site). 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.

Dixie Electric Cooperative - Project Share

Project Share (Salvation Army-administered, member-funded) pays energy bills for families in need; levelized billing, prepay; co-op may grant extensions on past-due balances.

Who

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

Where

9100 Atlanta Highway, Montgomery, AL 36117

Good to know

Apply through the Salvation Army. Counties from co-op service-area page. Email pr@dixie.coop. 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.

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.

Pioneer Electric Cooperative - Operation Round Up & Medical Priority List

Operation Round Up individual grants for members in need; Medical Priority List for life-support/medical-device users; up to 2 in-person payment arrangements per 12 months; Smart-Pay; Mon-Fri 7am-4pm.

Who

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

Where

300 Herbert Street, Greenville, AL 36037

Good to know

Arrangements must be made in person before last day to pay (not by phone). ORU contact Christi Scruggs (334) 382-4904. Selma office 4075 AL Hwy 41, Sardis 36775, (334) 875-2223. Toll-free (800) 239-3092. 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.

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.

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

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

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