Help Paying Power Bills in Morgan County, AL

Salvation Army of Decatur (Center of Hope)

Shelter and meals, food pantry, rent and utility help, clothing and furnishings.

Who

Low-income residents / homeless

Where

100 Austinville Rd. SW, Decatur 35601

Good to know

Shelter listed at 114 14th St. SW, (256) 353-4221 (2019 list).

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.

Beltline Church of Christ Benevolence

Utilities, rent, coats, pantry by appointment.

Who

Residents in need

Where

2159 Beltline Rd. SW, Decatur

Good to know

Other listing phone (256) 566-6221.

Catholic Center of Concern - Huntsville (North Alabama)

Rent/mortgage and utility help, life-threatening prescriptions, clothing room, diapers; apply by telephone intake.

Who

Low-income residents of the 9 listed North Alabama counties, regardless of religion.

Where

1010 Church St, Huntsville 35801

Good to know

Alt phone (256) 489-3484.

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.

Decatur Utilities - Bill Assistance (LIHEAP & Operation Warm via CAPNA)

Electric, gas, water/wastewater; bill help via CAPNA: LIHEAP (heating Nov-May, cooling Jun-Oct) and Operation Warm one-time help funded by customer donations.

Who

Operation Warm: elderly or handicapped customers or those in a health crisis, once per lifetime; LIHEAP income-based.

Where

1002 Central Parkway SW, Decatur, AL 35601

Good to know

Applications online only at capna.org; CAPNA 256-355-7843.

Decatur Utilities Project SHARE / Operation Warm

Project SHARE (Red Cross) and Operation Warm (Dec-May via Community Action) help with utility bills.

Who

DU customers; seniors, disabled, low/fixed income

Hartselle Utilities

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

Who

Customers in the service area.

Where

1010 Sparkman Street NW, Hartselle, AL 35640

Good to know

Hartselle city limits. Joe Wheeler EMC serves surrounding rural area (Operation WARM). Contact from TVA local power company directory; no assistance program verified online - refer to CAPNA/community action for LIHEAP.

Joe Wheeler EMC - Operation WARM

Members' $1+ bill donations fund Operation WARM one-time energy help via Community Action Partnership of North Alabama; Mon-Fri 7am-4pm.

Who

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

Where

25700 AL Highway 24, Trinity, AL 35673

Good to know

Apply with CAPNA (capna.org, 256-355-7843), not the co-op. Offices also in Hartselle and Moulton. 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.

Neighborhood Christian Center

Food pantry, clothes closet, furnishings, rent and utility help; Mon-Wed 9am-3pm.

Who

Low-income residents

Where

619 Bank St. NE, Decatur 35601

The Salvation Army Decatur Corps - Admin Office and Social Services

Emergency assistance (Center of Hope); 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

100 Austinville Rd SW, Decatur 35601

Good to know

Counties from Salvation Army ALM division location directory (salvationarmyusa.org/usa-southern-territory/alabama-louisiana-and-mississippi/location-directory/). Corps chapel at 114 14th St SW.

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 Morgan 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.