Local in Sumter County (8)
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.
Black Warrior EMC
Local · 12 Alabama counties
Electric service; payment options and member FAQ online; office Mon-Fri 7:30am-4:30pm.
(334) 289-0845
- Who
- Members of the cooperative; hardship/elderly/disabled members for assistance funds.
- Where
- 1410 Highway 43 South, Demopolis, AL 36732
- Good to know
- Counties from bylaws district list. Toll-free (800) 242-2580. No assistance program found online - ask about extensions; refer to Project SHARE. 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.
Community Service Programs of West Alabama - Sumter County LIHEAP Office
Local · Sumter County, AL
Local LIHEAP utility assistance office.
205-652-6408
- Who
- Low-income Sumter County households
- Where
- 106 Hospital Drive, Livingston 35470
- Good to know
- From UWA Sumter County resource guide.
Guadalupan Missionary Center (Eutaw)
Local · Greene, Sumter Counties, AL
Catholic Charities center of concern for basic needs in Greene and Sumter counties.
No phone listed · Website ↗
- Who
- Low-income individuals and families regardless of religion; call for intake.
- Good to know
- Address/phone not found; contact Catholic Charities of Birmingham.
Project SHARE (Alabama Power / Salvation Army energy assistance)
Project SHARE
Local · Greene, Sumter, Hale, Bullock, Macon Counties, AL
Emergency help paying power and heating bills during peak winter and summer months, funded by Alabama Power customer donations and run by The Salvation Army with local intake agencies.
(205) 328-2420
- Who
- Alabamians age 60+ or with a disability
- Good to know
- Call 205-328-2420 ext. 2 for the local office. Local intake: Greene - 116 Prairie Ave, Eutaw (205) 372-4562; Sumter - Community Service Programs of West Alabama (205) 652-1346; Hale - 800 Hall St, Greensboro (334) 624-4455; Bullock - Bullock County Aging Program, P.O. Box 472, Union Springs (334) 738-2928; Macon - Macon-Russell Community Action Agency, 501 S. School St Ste B, Tuskegee (334) 727-6100. Funds are seasonal and limited.
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.
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 Sumter 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 Sumter 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 Sumter County