Electricity Bill Assistance in Texas: Programs & Resources

For many Texas families, seasonal electricity bills can place a severe strain on household budgets. When summer temperatures climb, air conditioners must run continuously, leading to high bills.

If you are facing financial hardship and struggling to pay your electricity statement, you are not alone.

The State of Texas, along with local non-profits and retail electric providers (REPs), offer several utility assistance programs designed to help low-income families, seniors, and disabled individuals manage their energy costs.

In this guide, we will detail the primary state-wide and local assistance programs available in Texas, explain the qualification criteria, and outline your rights under Texas utility rules using GetElectricity.

1. Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program (CEAP)

The Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program (CEAP) is the primary utility assistance initiative in Texas, funded by federal grants and administered by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA).

CEAP is designed to:

• Provide financial assistance to cover up to 6 to 8 months of utility bills for qualifying low-income households.
• Offer energy education to help families reduce their overall usage.

Important: Priority Status: Under CEAP guidelines, priority is given to households with "vulnerable members"—specifically seniors (age 60+), individuals with disabilities, and families with children under age 6.

How to Qualify

To qualify, your household income must be at or below 150% of the federal poverty guidelines. Applications are handled by local community action agencies in your county.

2. Low-Income Discount Matching (Senate Bill 1976)

In Texas, Senate Bill 1976 establishes a matching system to identify low-income customers who qualify for special discounts from participating retail electricity providers.

• Eligibility: If you receive benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Medicaid, and the name on your state benefits account matches the name on your electric statement, you may qualify.
• Enrollment: The state database automatically cross-references these records. However, self-enrollment policies vary by provider. Contact your REP directly to verify if they participate in SB 1976 low-income discounts.

3. Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP)

The Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) helps low-income Texans improve the physical energy efficiency of their homes to lower long-term heating and cooling costs.

Eligible services include:

• Installing attic, wall, and floor insulation.
• Sealing air leaks around doors, windows, and ductwork.
• Performing maintenance or tune-ups on HVAC systems.

Like CEAP, WAP is administered by the TDHCA, and applications are processed through regional agencies.

4. Special Protections: Deposit Waivers for Family Violence Victims

Under Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) rules, victims of family violence are legally exempt from paying a security deposit to set up new residential electricity service.

• How it Works: To claim this waiver, you must provide the REP with a certification letter. This letter can be generated by a family violence shelter, a medical professional, law enforcement, or an attorney.
• Resources: You can download the standard certification form from the Texas Council on Family Violence (TCFV) website.

Program Summary: At-a-Glance Directory

Here is a summary of the primary assistance programs available to Texas utility consumers, including eligibility and how to apply:

Manage Your Billing Support with GetElectricity

If you are experiencing financial difficulties, the best first step is to contact your REP immediately. Under Texas rules, providers must offer deferred payment plans if you ask before your disconnection date.

GetElectricity is here to support you:

• Compare Low-Base Plans: If you qualify for assistance or operate on a tight budget, we help you find linear plans with low or zero base charges, ensuring every dollar of assistance goes directly toward energy use.
• Auto-Pay Alerts: We help you track payment deadlines so you can request deferred payment plans before late fees accumulate.

Access the resources you need to keep your home powered. Browse low-cost, stable fixed plans on GetElectricity today.

Lower Your Bill for Good with GetElectricity

Assistance programs bridge a crisis, but the durable fix is a plan whose true rate fits a tight budget every single month.

GetElectricity connects directly to your Smart Meter Texas data to build your real 12-month usage profile, then simulates hundreds of active plans across Lubbock, Waco, McAllen, and Corpus Christi, surfacing the lowest all-in fixed rates available at your address.

Enter your ZIP code on GetElectricity to find a plan that costs less every month, not just in a crisis.

How to Stack Assistance Programs

These programs are not mutually exclusive — a household in crisis can use several of them at once, and the order you use them in matters.

1. Call your REP first. Ask for a deferred payment plan before your disconnection date. Texas rules require providers to offer one if you ask in time, which stops the immediate shutoff clock while everything else processes.
2. Apply for CEAP through your local community action agency. This is the largest benefit — up to 6 to 8 months of utility bills — but applications take time, so start it the same week. Households with seniors, disabled members, or children under 6 get priority status.
3. Verify your SB 1976 enrollment. If you receive SNAP or Medicaid, confirm the name on your benefits account matches your electric statement exactly, then ask your REP whether it participates in the low-income discount.
4. Request WAP for the long term. Insulation, air sealing, and HVAC tune-ups shrink every future bill, which stretches whatever assistance you receive further.

If you are setting up new service after leaving a violent situation, add the deposit waiver to the stack — the TCFV certification letter removes that upfront cost entirely.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main electricity bill assistance program in Texas?

The Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program (CEAP), funded by federal grants and administered by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA). It can cover up to 6 to 8 months of utility bills for households at or below 150% of the federal poverty guidelines, with priority given to seniors age 60 and older, individuals with disabilities, and families with children under age 6. Applications go through local community action agencies.

Do SNAP or Medicaid recipients qualify for electricity discounts?

Often yes. Under Senate Bill 1976, the state maintains a matching system that cross-references SNAP and Medicaid records when the name on your benefits account matches the name on your electric statement. Self-enrollment policies vary by provider, so contact your retail electric provider directly to verify whether it participates in SB 1976 low-income discounts.

Can the electricity deposit be waived for victims of family violence?

Yes. Under Public Utility Commission of Texas rules, victims of family violence are legally exempt from paying a security deposit to set up new residential electricity service. You provide the REP a certification letter from a family violence shelter, medical professional, law enforcement, or an attorney — the standard certification form is available from the Texas Council on Family Violence.

If a deposit is the barrier to starting service, compare your options with our no-deposit electricity guide before choosing a prepaid plan.

Related reading: If a bill has already slipped past its due date, read our breakdown of Texas late fees, disconnection notices, and your rights so a single missed payment does not snowball while you wait on assistance.