Customers of Avista in Washington can get assistance with utility and electric bills from one of many programs. They include Lend a Hand, Project Share, Senior Energy Outreach, and LIRAP. In addition, the energy company can direct people to the federal government funded Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) as well as weatherization. Call Avista in Washington at 1-800-227-9187 to apply.
Avista partners with local non-profit agencies, charities, and other organizations to provide the Lend a Hand assistance program. This program is funded by generous customer donations and contributions. Qualifications need to be met by applicants. It can assist with a variety of needs, including heating system repairs and improvements, grants for paying utility bills, and energy conservation and weatherization services. When people in Washington need a little extra help, the Lend a Hand resource can help people make it through a difficult period.
Limited-income and low-income customers can receive Energy Bill Assistance Grants for paying bills from Lend a Hand. The grants and funds are distributed to qualifying lower income customers through public resources such as SNAP in Spokane County Washington and other local community agencies like the Salvation Army. Grants are made available through a combination of natural gas and electric tariff surcharges and supplemented by government grants. The main purpose of these programs is to assist people with paying bills and to also reduce the energy cost burden among customers who are least able to pay a portion of their energy bills.
As indicated, it is a donation program, and Project Share Grants are created by contributions made by families across Washington to the Project Share fund from our customers. All contributions are tax deductible. Additional donations are made directly from Avista and also from Avista employees. Lower to moderate income customers can contact their local non-profit agency or community action agency to see if they are eligible to receive this one-time grant that can be used for emergency utility bill payment assistance. Read more Avista Project Share.
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Another resource is Senior Energy Outreach. This Avista service can assist seniors who live on a fixed income who are dealing with increasing energy costs and higher utility bills. Assistance can also be provided along with aid for other living and medical expenses. It can provide financial assistance for both heating and cooling expenses. Eligible households in Washington must be a person age 60 or over.
The Avista CARES program may be able to aids those customers who are currently facing a short term crisis or hardship. CARES can assist through a variety of programs and methods, such as access to referral agencies as well as special payment arrangements. This is an Avista sponsored program, and it can provide emergency energy bill assistance for families in Washington.
LIRAP is another low-income utility rate assistance program funded by Avista customers. It is run by community action agencies across Washington.