Get Help

You must meet the following criteria to be eligible to apply:

1. Your total gross yearly household income is at or below 60 percent of Georgia’s median income level.

2. Your household has a member who is responsible for paying the heating bills.

3. You are a U.S. citizen, qualified alien, or permanent resident.

4. You have received a disconnection notice or need to restore service.

Verification is required. Energy assistance is approved within 48 hours after an eligible household applies and within 18 hours for a household with an individual in a life-threatening situation. If a life-threatening situation exists, the applicant must present at the time of application a medical statement or verification of the medical condition by an approved medical professional.

HEAT works with the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services to distribute energy assistance through community action agencies. Select your county to find the name and contact information for the agency serving your area.

Looking for ways to lower your energy bill? Thankfully, it doesn’t require a major investment of time or money. Check out our conservation tips below for what you can do today to help lower your energy costs year-round.

Heating and Cooling

• Unless prevented by a health situation, keep your heating thermostat comfortably low (65° F to 68° F) when you are at home during the day. Turn down your thermostat (55° F to 58° F) when you leave the house for more than a few hours and when you go to bed at night.
• In the summer, set your thermostat at 78° F or higher.
• Check air filters regularly and replace or clean them when dirty. Replacing a dirty air filter can save money by reducing the amount of time your furnace or air conditioner stays on.
• Make sure furniture is not blocking heating and cooling vents.
• Close doors and vents in rooms that you are not using.
• If you have a fireplace, keep the damper closed when the fireplace is not in use.
• Remove window air conditioning units in the winter. If you are unable, cover the unit with plastic to stop drafts.
• Use kitchen and bathroom fans only as long as necessary. In addition to moisture and odors, they draw out heated or cooled air.
• Run fans in reverse. Fans not only help cool your home, but can make your home warmer by switching the fan to run clockwise at a low speed. Doing this will draw air to the ceiling and circulate warm air back into the living space, cutting your heating costs as much as 10 percent.

Lights

• Turn off lights when you leave a room for long periods.
• Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs. They last longer than ordinary incandescent bulbs, and they use much less energy.

Water

• Turn the water heater thermostat to no more than 120° F. Approximately 13 percent of energy costs go to water heating.
• If possible, take a short shower instead of a tub bath. You will use less water.
• Repair a dripping faucet. In just one day, you could waste enough hot water to fill a bathtub.
• Drain your home water heater of sediments as needed for optimal efficiency and longevity.

Air Leaks

• Seal air leaks around windows, doors and electrical outlets with caulking and weather stripping.
• Make low-cost but effective “storm windows” by placing plastic over windows.
• Close fireplace damper when not in use. Warm air can escape through your chimney when the damper is left open. Unless a fire is burning, always remember to keep it closed.

Curtains

• On sunny winter days, open the curtains to let the warmth of the sunshine in.
• At night, pull the curtains to stop heat being lost through the windows.
• In the summer, close the curtains on sun-exposed windows.
• Make sure curtains do not t block heating and cooling vents or that they are not too close to space heaters.
• Thicker curtains with thermal lining make a noticeable difference in losing heat through windows, which can cut heating costs by up to 25 percent.
•  Make sure to use curtains that hang closer to the window and reach the floor to reduce heat lose. Using pelmets – or window cornices – above the curtain rail can further insulate your windows.

Washing Machine and Clothes Dryer

• Wait until you have a full load before using your washing machine or clothes dryer.
• Use a lower temperature to wash clothes. Modern washing powders work just as well at low temperatures.
• Clean the lint filter on your dryer after each use.

Refrigerator and Freezer

• Keep the refrigerator and freezer as full as possible, even if you simply put in empty packages or containers. A full refrigerator or freezer uses less energy.
• Defrost the freezer regularly to keep it running efficiently.
• Where possible, position your refrigerator and freezer away from your range.

Dishwasher

• Wait until you have a full load before using the dishwasher.
• Use the low-temperature setting unless your dishes are very dirty.
• Use the “energy-saver” switch on your dishwasher. This usually shuts off the drying element, which greatly reduces the amount of energy used.

Cooking

• Use the right size pan for the food and the burner.
• Keep saucepan lids on when cooking.
• Avoid using use more water than you need.
• Preheat the oven only if the recipe calls for it.
• Use smaller kitchen appliances. Microwaves, toaster ovens and slow cookers can use much less energy than a large electric oven.

For more energy-saving information, check with your local energy supplier.

Home Energy Bill

Payment arrangements often can be made with your energy provider in order to make a high bill more manageable. Contact your energy company for more information regarding individual payment plans. The telephone number is listed on your bill. For your convenience, a partial list of energy companies follows:

Constellation – 877.677.4355

Gas South – 877.472.4932

Georgia Natural Gas – 770.850.6200 (inside metro Atlanta) or 1.877.850.6200 (outside Atlanta)

Georgia Power Company – 1.888.660.5890

Fuel Georgia – 678.774.6010 (inside Atlanta) or 833.903.3835 (outside Atlanta)

SCANA Energy – 1.877.467.2262

SCANA Energy – Regulated Division – 1.866.245.7742

Stream Energy – 1.866.447.8732

Town Square Energy – 888.998.1928

True Natural Gas (A Coweta-Fayette EMC Company) – 770.502.0226 (inside Atlanta) or 1.877.746.4362 (outside Atlanta)

Walton Gas – 770.267.2505 (inside metro Atlanta) or 1.866.936.2427 (outside Atlanta)

XOOM Energy – 855.203.3808

Statewide Energy Assistance and Weatherization

Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) – Georgia Division of Family and Children Services – 404.657.3427 or 404.656.2323

Salvation Army – Project SHARE – 1.800.257.4273

Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) – Georgia Environmental Finance Authority – 1.800.436.7442

Metro Atlanta Assistance and Referral Programs

United Way, 211 Referral Program – dial 211 or 404.614.1000

 St. Vincent DePaul Society – Georgia – 678.892.6163

Midtown Assistance Center – Request Help – 404.681.5777

Buckhead Christian Ministry – Emergency Assistance – 404.239.0038

Help for Senior Citizens

Atlanta Gas Light – Senior Citizens Discount Program – 800.427.5463
low-income seniors must be on Atlanta Gas Light’s pipeline system

Georgia Power – Senior Citizens Discount – 1.888.660.5890

HopeWorks – 404.872.0167

Atlanta Regional Commission – Aging Services – 404.463.3100

Senior Connections – Programs – 770.455.7602

Financial Resources

Unemployment Benefits – Georgia Department of Labor: find phone numbers here