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Indiana utility bill help
Last updated: October 23, 2026
Indiana has several ways to lower or stabilize utility costs, but the right route depends on the bill, the utility company, the household income, and whether shutoff is already close. The main statewide energy program is open for the 2026–2027 season, while water help is now more local because Indiana’s temporary statewide water-assistance program has ended.
Bottom Line
If an electric or heating bill is the problem, start with Indiana’s Energy Assistance Program (EAP) and the Local Service Provider for your county. The 2026–2027 application season runs from October 1, 2026 through April 30, 2027. If you already have a shutoff notice, tell the provider that you have a crisis when you first contact them.
Also call your utility. Indiana has winter shutoff protection for qualifying EAP applicants and recipients, a newer heat-index protection for certain electric customers, medical-delay rules for regulated utilities, township assistance, weatherization, and utility-company programs. For local referrals, dial 2-1-1.
Need Help With a Shutoff Right Now?
- Call the utility first. Ask what exact payment, payment plan, or proof of assistance application will stop the disconnection.
- Contact your EAP provider. Indiana defines a heating crisis to include a disconnect notice, service already disconnected, propane or fuel oil at or below 25% of a tank, or being within 10 days of running out of another bulk heating fuel. The official EAP page explains the current crisis process.
- Dial 2-1-1. Indiana 211 can search for utility, food, housing, transportation, and other local help by ZIP code.
- Use the right emergency route. If there is a gas leak, fire, downed line, carbon-monoxide concern, or immediate medical danger, leave the unsafe area when needed and call 911 or the utility’s emergency line.
If the utility dispute involves a company regulated by the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC), the IURC Consumer Affairs Division can help after you first try to resolve the problem with the utility. Call 1-800-851-4268.
Start Here
- Identify the bill and deadline. Write down the utility company, account number, amount past due, shutoff date, and whether heat, electricity, water, sewer, propane, or another fuel is involved.
- Apply for EAP if energy is involved. Use the new LITT application portal, or ask your county’s Local Service Provider for a paper or in-person application.
- Ask for help beyond EAP. Your utility may have its own low-income program. Indiana township trustees can also help with essential utility bills in qualifying cases. For a broader look at benefits that may free up money for bills, see Indiana senior benefits.
Quick Reference: Where to Start
| Problem | Best first route | What to ask | Important limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electric or heating bill | EAP Local Service Provider | EAP screening and crisis review | One annual benefit; funding and eligibility rules apply |
| Shutoff notice | Utility plus EAP provider | Hold, payment plan, crisis action, moratorium protection | Protection depends on utility type, season, and EAP status |
| Water or sewer bill | Utility, township trustee, 211 | Local hardship funds or payment plan | The statewide LIHWAP water program is closed |
| High bills every month | Weatherization | Home energy assessment and eligible work | Not an emergency bill-payment program |
| Need another local payer | Township trustee or 211 | Utility assistance for your township | Local standards and documentation vary |
Indiana’s Main Energy-Bill Program: EAP
Indiana calls its Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program the Energy Assistance Program (EAP). The Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA) administers it through Local Service Providers, often Community Action agencies.
For Program Year 2027, applications opened October 1, 2026 and are scheduled to close April 30, 2027 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern. EAP provides a one-time annual benefit toward heat and electric costs. Payment normally goes to the utility or fuel vendor rather than to the household as cash.
Who may qualify
EAP is not seniors-only. IHCDA states that income eligibility is tied to 60% of State Median Income. Renters can apply, and households with utility costs included in rent may have an application route if they provide the required documentation.
How to apply
Indiana moved statewide online applications to LITT for the 2026–2027 season. Apply online or contact the Local Service Provider serving your county for paper, mail, or in-person options. Prepare current utility information, household income records, and any lease or tenant verification the provider requests.
Crisis cases
IHCDA defines a heating crisis to include a shutoff notice, service already disconnected, propane or fuel oil at or below 25% of a tank, or being within 10 days of running out of another bulk heating fuel. The provider must take a mitigating action within 48 hours. A life-threatening crisis involving lost heat or depleted fuel plus a documented medical need and extreme safety concern requires mitigating action within 18 hours.
Reality Check: EAP Can Take Time
A mitigating action is not guaranteed approval. IHCDA says many applications submitted outside an in-person appointment can take up to 55 days for an eligibility decision. Keep paying what you can and keep talking with the utility while EAP is pending.
Important: Confirm the Current EAP Dollar Limit
As of October 3, 2026, IHCDA-hosted versions of the Program Year 2027 EAP page were displaying different household income dollar tables. Both describe the core eligibility rule as 60% of State Median Income, but the posted dollar figures were not fully synchronized.
Because income is a high-risk eligibility fact, this guide does not choose one conflicting table and present it as certain. Use the state’s stated 60% rule for orientation, then ask your Local Service Provider to confirm the current dollar limit for your household size and the income period it will use before you decide not to apply.
This is especially important if your income is close to the limit. A pension, Social Security, wages, household composition, and the program’s income-counting method can affect the result.
Indiana Shutoff Protections and Payment Rights
Indiana has both winter and heat-related protections, but the rules are not identical for every utility. First identify whether your provider is investor-owned, municipal, or a rural electric membership cooperative.
| Protection | What it can do | Who it covers | What you must do |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter moratorium | Blocks electric or gas shutoff from Dec. 1 through Mar. 15 | Qualifying EAP recipients or applicants; electric and gas utilities statewide | Apply for EAP and give the utility required proof |
| Heat-index moratorium | Blocks qualifying electric shutoff on forecast heat-index days of 95°F or more | EAP-protected customers of non-municipal electric utilities | Make sure the utility knows your EAP status |
| Medical delay | Postpones disconnection for 10 days; a second 10-day period may be available | Customers covered by IURC disconnection rules | Provide the required medical statement |
| Payment arrangement | May prevent shutoff when the customer meets payment and repayment terms | Certain IURC-regulated utility customers | Contact the utility before disconnection and keep the agreement |
The Indiana winter moratorium protects qualifying EAP households from electric or natural-gas disconnection between December 1 and March 15. It applies to investor-owned, municipal, and rural electric membership cooperative utilities. It does not cancel the bill.
Indiana’s 2026 law also added a heat-index protection. The IURC rule analysis says non-municipal electric utilities may not disconnect an EAP-protected residential customer on a qualifying day when the National Weather Service forecasts a local heat index of at least 95°F. The law also created levelized-billing requirements for certain non-municipal electric customers who qualify for and apply for low-income heating assistance, with an opt-out.
The OUCC disconnection guide describes a 10-day medical delay, possible additional 10-day protection, and payment-arrangement rules for utilities under IURC rules. If a covered utility dispute remains after you contact the company, use the IURC consumer page or call 1-800-851-4268.
Utility-Company Programs Can Add More Help
EAP is the statewide starting point, but major utilities have additional assistance. Apply for EAP first when the utility program requires EAP eligibility. Municipal utilities and rural electric cooperatives may have different local funds, so call them directly.
| Utility | Program | Current help | Key rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| AES Indiana | Power of Change | $10 monthly bill credit July–December 2026 for customers approved for state energy assistance; emergency support also available | EAP or other listed low-income proof may be required |
| NIPSCO | SILVER for Seniors | One-time natural-gas assistance for eligible senior customers | Age 60+, active residential gas account, past-due balance, income at or below 250% FPL |
| Duke Energy Indiana | Share the Light | Up to $250 account credit annually in 2026 for qualifying Indiana residents | Local agency screening and available funds apply |
| CenterPoint Energy Indiana | Universal Service Program | Monthly natural-gas bill discount during the heating season | EAP qualification and current income rules apply |
| Indiana Michigan Power | Neighbor to Neighbor | Grant toward an Indiana electric bill | Household income cannot exceed 150% of the Federal Poverty Level |
| Citizens Energy Group | Warm Heart Warm Home | Utility grants, some line or appliance repair, education, and case management | Greater Indianapolis service area and program screening |
NIPSCO’s SILVER program is especially relevant to older adults because it is specifically for qualifying gas customers age 60 or older. Other utility programs are not seniors-only. Funding, service territory, account status, and application rules can change, so confirm the current terms with your utility.
If utility-company programs are exhausted, the GFS guide to Indiana local charities can help you search for nonprofit backup routes.
Water and Sewer Help: The Statewide LIHWAP Program Is Closed
Do not assume Indiana EAP will pay a current water or sewer bill. Indiana’s temporary Low Income Household Water Assistance Program was funded as a pandemic-era program, and IHCDA now states that the water-assistance application closed.
For a water or sewer crisis, call the utility and ask for a hardship plan, local assistance fund, leak-adjustment policy if relevant, and the minimum action needed to stop shutoff. Then contact the township trustee and 211. Indianapolis-area Citizens customers should also ask about Warm Heart Warm Home and current Citizens assistance.
If utility loss is part of a larger housing crisis, use Indiana housing help so you can address rent, shelter, and utility problems together instead of treating each bill as a separate emergency.
Indiana Township Assistance Is an Important Backup
Indiana’s township system gives this state a backup route that many national guides miss. The Indiana State Board of Accounts says a township trustee may, in cases of necessity, use township assistance funds for essential water, gas, electric, fuel oil, coal, wood, and liquid propane used for heating or cooking.
The trustee may also pay certain delinquent utility bills when necessary to prevent termination or restore service. The state township resource notes limits and legal conditions, including a rule concerning delinquency older than 24 months.
Township assistance is local. Each township applies its standards, residency checks, documentation rules, and available funding. Call before visiting. Ask exactly what proof of residence, income, household resources, bill amount, shutoff status, and EAP application the trustee requires. If you do not know your township, dial 211 and ask for the trustee serving your address.
Weatherization Can Lower Future Bills
If the problem is not only one overdue bill but a home that is expensive to heat or cool every month, apply for the Indiana Weatherization Assistance Program. It is not emergency cash. It funds energy-conservation work selected through the program’s assessment process.
IHCDA’s weatherization page says households can qualify with income up to 200% of the federal poverty level or by being deemed eligible for EAP, and the home must be safe to weatherize. The 2026 annual 200% limits include $31,920 for one person, $43,280 for two, $54,640 for three, and $66,000 for four.
Weatherization can be a strong next step after the immediate shutoff problem is stable. It does not replace a general home-repair program. If the furnace, roof, wiring, accessibility, or another safety problem falls outside weatherization, see the GFS Indiana home repair guide.
How to Apply Without Wasting Time
- Make one bill sheet. List each utility, balance, due date, shutoff date, and account number.
- Save the shutoff notice. Tell the EAP provider immediately if you have one.
- Gather income proof. Include Social Security, pension, wages, and other records the provider requests.
- Apply to EAP early. Several utility-company programs use EAP eligibility as a gateway.
- Work more than one route. When shutoff is close, contact the utility, EAP provider, township trustee, and 211 rather than waiting on one answer.
Documents to Gather
- Photo identification if requested.
- Current utility bill and account number.
- Shutoff or disconnection notice.
- Proof of household income for the required period.
- Lease or landlord verification when utilities are included in rent.
- Medical statement if you need a medical disconnection delay.
- Proof of EAP application when a protection or utility program requires it.
The Indiana benefits portal guide explains Indiana’s main FSSA portal. EAP uses the separate LITT system, so an FSSA application does not automatically apply you for EAP.
Reality Checks
- EAP is not full-year bill payment. It is a one-time annual energy benefit and may not cover the whole balance.
- A pending application does not erase a shutoff notice. Keep speaking with the utility and give it proof when a protection requires proof.
- Not every shutoff rule covers every utility. Winter protection is broad for electric and gas utilities; the 2026 summer heat-index rule is narrower and applies to non-municipal electric utilities under the state rule.
- Water assistance is now local. The temporary statewide LIHWAP application is closed.
- Township help varies. The legal authority is statewide, but the application and decision are local.
- Utility programs can change with funding. A program listed today can close, change its amount, or require a new application later.
- The EAP income tables are currently inconsistent online. Confirm the dollar threshold with the Local Service Provider before relying on a number.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Waiting until the morning of shutoff to contact EAP or the utility.
- Assuming winter protection applies without an EAP application or required proof.
- Assuming the new 95°F protection covers municipal electric utilities.
- Using an old EAPConnect link instead of the 2026–2027 LITT system.
- Assuming a water bill is covered because an old LIHWAP page still appears in search results.
- Ignoring a medical condition that may support a short disconnection delay.
- Calling only the state office when the local provider or township trustee makes the first decision.
- Paying a “grant finder” or giving sensitive information to a site that is not the utility, government agency, or known community organization.
Denied, Delayed, or Still Facing Shutoff?
EAP denial: IHCDA says a first-level appeal must be submitted in writing to the Local Service Provider or through LITT within 30 days of receiving the denial. The provider should send a written response within 14 calendar days. The EAP appeal instructions explain the process.
Utility dispute: Ask the company for its written explanation. For a utility under IURC jurisdiction, Consumer Affairs can review billing, deposits, termination, customer rights, and utility responsibilities after you first try to resolve the issue with the company.
Need a backup: Try the township trustee, the utility’s hardship program, and 211. For broader crisis needs, use Indiana emergency help. If disability or a medical condition shapes the crisis, see Indiana disability benefits.
Phone Scripts You Can Use
Utility shutoff call
“I am an older Indiana customer and I have a shutoff date of [date]. I am applying for EAP. What exact amount or payment arrangement will stop the shutoff, and where should I send proof of my EAP application?”
EAP crisis call
“I live in [county]. I have [a disconnection notice / service already disconnected / low propane]. Does this meet the EAP crisis rule? What documents do you need today, and what mitigating action can be taken?”
Township trustee call
“I live at [address] in this township and need help with an essential [electric / gas / water / propane] bill. Is utility assistance available now? What documents do I need, and how do I get a written decision?”
Medical protection call
“Disconnection could create a serious and immediate health or safety threat in my household. What medical statement does your utility require for the Indiana disconnection delay, and where should my provider send it?”
Local and Official Help
- Indiana 211: Dial 2-1-1 for local utility, food, housing, transportation, and community referrals.
- IHCDA EAP: Start with the Local Service Provider for your county. If you cannot reach the provider or need appeal-process help, IHCDA lists 317-232-7777 and eap@ihcda.in.gov.
- IURC Consumer Affairs: For covered utility disputes after contacting the utility, call 1-800-851-4268 or 317-232-2712.
- Your utility: Ask specifically for payment plans, EAP-linked programs, levelized billing, hardship funds, and shutoff protections.
Resumen en Español
Si necesita ayuda con electricidad o calefacción en Indiana, empiece con el Programa de Asistencia de Energía (EAP). La temporada 2026–2027 está programada del 1 de octubre de 2026 al 30 de abril de 2027. La solicitud en línea usa LITT; también puede pedir ayuda a la agencia local de su condado.
Si tiene un aviso de corte, dígalo inmediatamente. Indiana tiene protección de invierno para ciertos solicitantes y beneficiarios de EAP del 1 de diciembre al 15 de marzo. En 2026 también entró en vigor una protección por calor para ciertos clientes eléctricos cuando el índice de calor pronosticado llega a 95°F.
El programa estatal temporal LIHWAP para agua ya cerró. Para agua o alcantarillado, llame a la compañía, al trustee de su township y al 2-1-1. Guarde su factura, aviso de corte, prueba de ingresos y comprobante de solicitud.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Indiana EAP open now?
Yes. Program Year 2027 opened October 1, 2026 and is scheduled to close April 30, 2027 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern. Indiana now uses the LITT system for statewide online EAP applications.
Does Indiana EAP have a special senior age rule?
No separate senior age is required for the statewide EAP. Eligibility is based on the program’s household rules, including income. Some utility-company programs are senior-specific, such as NIPSCO SILVER for qualifying gas customers age 60 or older.
Can my heat be shut off in winter?
Indiana law bars electric and natural-gas disconnection from December 1 through March 15 for customers who receive EAP or qualify, have formally applied, and provide the utility the required proof. The protection does not cancel the bill, and exceptions can apply.
Can EAP pay my water bill?
Do not rely on EAP for a current water or sewer bill. Indiana’s temporary statewide LIHWAP water-assistance application is closed. Ask the water utility about local hardship help or a payment plan, and also contact your township trustee and Indiana 211.
What should I do with a shutoff notice?
Call the utility and your EAP Local Service Provider the same day. Tell the provider you have a disconnection notice and ask for crisis review. Also ask the utility what payment or proof is required to stop shutoff, and dial 211 for local backup help.
About This Guide
Sources: This guide uses official federal, state, local, utility, and other high-trust nonprofit and community sources linked in the article.
Editorial note
This guide is produced based on our Editorial Standards using official and other high-trust sources, regularly updated and monitored, but not affiliated with any government agency and not a substitute for official agency guidance. Individual eligibility outcomes cannot be guaranteed.
Corrections
Please note that despite our careful verification process, errors may still occur. Email info@grantsforseniors.org with corrections and we will respond within 72 hours.
Disclaimer
This article is for informational purposes only and is not legal, financial, medical, tax, disability-rights, immigration, or government-agency advice. Program rules, policies, funding, and availability can change. Readers should confirm current details directly with the responsible official program before acting.
Last updated: October 23, 2026 · Next review: January 21, 2027
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