Managing Energy Bills
High energy bills can strain your budget, but you can take steps to help manage your bills:
Ask about budget billing.
Contact your utility company to see if it offers a budget billing plan—a payment plan that lets you pay the same amount each month. The amount is calculated using a 12-month average of your energy usage, giving you more certainty about what you pay month to month.
For example, instead of paying higher bills in the winter and lower bills in the summer, you pay about the same amount each month. The company will re-evaluate your account to make sure you have paid for all usage and adjust your monthly payment accordingly.
Change your bill due date.
If you cannot pay your bill on time because the due date falls before your funds are available, contact your utility company. Explain your situation, and offer alternative dates for when you can pay the bill.
If the company agrees to your payment arrangement, make sure you follow through on your payment plan. Only offer arrangements you can keep. This will help keep your account in good standing and your service safe from disconnection. If you do not meet arrangements that you have agreed to, the company can disconnect your service without notice.
Look into energy assistance and weatherization programs.
Depending on your income level, there are community-based organizations that may be able to assist you, such as your utility company, Washington Information Network (dial 211 from any phone), and local charity organizations. Community action networks also provide low income energy assistance:
| County Served | Local Assistance Organizations |
|---|---|
| Benton, Franklin | Benton Franklin Community Action Committee |
| Columbia, Garfield, Walla Walla | Blue Mountain Action Council |
| Chelan, Douglas | Chelan-Douglas Community Action Council |
| King | Seattle City Housing Office |
| Clallam, Jefferson | Olympic Community Action Programs |
| Clark | Clark County Department of Community Services |
| Grays Harbor, Pacific | Coastal Community Action Program |
| Asotin | Community Action Agency |
| Whitman | Community Action Center (Whitman) |
| Lewis, Mason, Thurston | Community Action Council of Lewis, Mason, and Thurston Counties |
| Skagit | Housing Authority of Skagit County |
| King | Housing Authority of the County of King |
| Kitsap | Kitsap Community Resources |
| Kittitas | HopeSource |
| Cowlitz, Wahkiakum | Lower Columbia Community Action Council Inc. |
| Pierce | Metropolitan Development Council |
| Ferry, Pend Oreille, Stevens, Adams | Rural Resources Community Action |
| Okanogan | Okanogan County Community Action Council |
| Pierce | Pierce County Department of Community Services |
| Snohomish | Snohomish County Human Services |
| Spokane | Spokane Neighborhood Action Partners |
| Island, San Juan, Whatcom | Opportunity Council |
| Yakima | Yakima Valley Farm Worker Clinic |
| Grant, Yakima | Opportunities Industrialization Center of Washington |
| Klickitat, Skamania | Yakima Valley Farm Worker Clinic |
| Spokane | Spokane Indian Housing Authority |
| Yakima | Yakama Nation Housing Authority |
| Lewis, Mason, Pacific, Thurston | South Puget Intertribal Planning |
| Klickitat, Skamania | Washington Gorge Action Programs |
Lowering your usage, working with your utility company, and getting funding assistance will help keep your home comfortable throughout the year.