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Louisiana utility help
Last updated: October 19, 2026
Louisiana seniors can have several ways to deal with a high electric, gas, or water bill. The right route depends on the parish, utility company, and type of emergency. LIHEAP is the main statewide energy program, while utilities also offer payment plans, hardship funds, medical-account programs, and energy-saving services.
Bottom Line
If you have a shutoff notice or cannot keep up with an energy bill, start with the Louisiana LIHEAP page and find the agency serving your parish. As of October 3, 2026, Louisiana Housing Corporation says the statewide online portal is closed and directs crisis appointments and application help to local parish partners. Call your utility the same day and ask for a hold, payment arrangement, or any company assistance program that fits your account.
Important October 2026 LIHEAP Note
Do not use the old 2026 LIHEAP income table as a current October test. Louisiana’s FFY2026 income notice was effective only through September 30, 2026 and said the limits would change October 1. The public energy page still shows the older table. Ask your local LIHEAP agency which limit is now in effect, and check LHC energy resources or LHC public notices for a new state notice.
Need Help Before a Shutoff?
Do not wait for a seasonal application window if service is already off or a disconnect date is close. Contact the parish LIHEAP agency and the utility company now. If you cannot identify a local program, dial 211 or text your ZIP code to 898-211. Louisiana 211 is available statewide 24 hours a day.
You can also use GFS’s Louisiana emergency assistance guide for other urgent bill, housing, food, and crisis routes.
Start Here
- Find your parish LIHEAP agency. Use the Louisiana Housing Corporation directory and tell the office if you have a disconnect notice.
- Call the utility. Ask whether it can pause disconnection while assistance is pending, set up a payment arrangement, or screen you for a utility-funded program.
- Check the right backup. Older adults may have special routes through Entergy’s Power to Care, Cleco’s Power of Sharing, a Council on Aging, a local charity, or a water program.
| Your problem | Best first route | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Electric or gas bill is unaffordable | Parish LIHEAP agency | Income, household facts, funding, and season rules matter. |
| Disconnect notice or service is off | LIHEAP crisis route plus utility | Bring the disconnect notice and ask the utility about a hold or arrangement. |
| Senior or disability hardship | Utility assistance fund | Entergy, Cleco, and SWEPCO have different programs and service areas. |
| High bills every month | Weatherization or efficiency program | These programs reduce future energy use; they do not erase old debt. |
| Water or sewer arrears | Water utility plus local aid | The temporary federal LIHWAP program ended; local programs now matter more. |
Louisiana LIHEAP Is the Main Statewide Energy-Bill Route
The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is federally funded, but Louisiana Housing Corporation (LHC) administers it through local agencies. It can help with heating and cooling bills, crisis energy bills, and in some cases heating or cooling equipment repair or replacement. It is not a senior-only program and approval is not automatic.
Apply through the agency for your parish
Louisiana does not run LIHEAP as one permanent statewide online application. LHC’s current page says online applications are closed and tells people who need crisis appointments or application help to contact the partner serving their parish. The same page has an energy provider directory with parish contacts.
Intake days, appointment methods, and available funds can differ by parish. If normal seasonal intake is closed, ask specifically whether crisis LIHEAP is available for a pending disconnect or loss of service.
Current income limits need confirmation
As of October 3, 2026, GFS is not publishing a Louisiana LIHEAP dollar cutoff because the last official FFY2026 table expired September 30 and said the limits would change October 1. Do not self-deny based on an expired number. Give the parish office your household size and current income and ask for the FFY2027 screening limit.
What LIHEAP usually asks you to bring
LHC lists recent utility bills, wage and other income proof, proof of address, photo ID, Social Security information for household members, and other documents when needed. For crisis assistance, bring the disconnect or pending-disconnect notice.
If you are helping a parent or older relative, the Louisiana aging agencies guide can help you find local aging-network support when paperwork or referrals become difficult.
Tribal households
LIHEAP responsibility can differ for tribal households. The federal LIHEAP eligibility finder can help identify a state or tribal contact. If responsibility is unclear, ask both the parish provider and your tribal social-services office.
Louisiana Has Extreme-Weather Shutoff Rules, but They Are Limited
For utilities under Louisiana Public Service Commission (LPSC) jurisdiction, the LPSC consumer page still lists General Order R-29706 for gas and electric disconnections during extreme weather.
Under the extreme-weather order, a residential electric or natural-gas utility covered by the rule may not disconnect service in a parish on a day when the prior day’s high did not exceed 32°F and the temperature is predicted to remain at or below that level for the next 24 hours. In summer, the trigger is a National Weather Service heat advisory. Natural-gas utilities are not covered by the summer prohibition unless the customer uses natural gas to cool the home.
Reality check
This rule postpones certain disconnections during qualifying weather. It does not cancel the bill, erase arrears, or guarantee that a utility will keep service on after the weather trigger ends. Ask the utility what amount or arrangement is needed to protect the account after the temporary restriction ends.
New Orleans is different. Entergy New Orleans is regulated by the New Orleans City Council, not the LPSC. The City of New Orleans explains this separate utility regulation structure. If your account is with Entergy New Orleans, use that company’s rules and City Council channels instead of assuming every LPSC rule applies.
If a utility refuses a protection you believe applies, save the shutoff notice and ask for a supervisor or the regulator’s consumer office. For broader options, see GFS’s Louisiana senior assistance guide.
Utility Companies Have Separate Assistance Programs
Louisiana utilities also have company programs that may reduce a bill, spread payments, or connect a senior to donated assistance. Start with the company shown on the bill because the programs are not interchangeable.
| Utility | Program | What it can do | Key limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entergy Louisiana | Power to Care | Emergency bill help through local nonprofits for customers age 60+ or customers with disabilities. | Funding and local agency eligibility apply. |
| Cleco | CARE | 25% discount on the fuel portion of the electric bill for eligible customers. | Uses LIHEAP income rules; enrollment is through a local Community Action Agency. |
| Cleco | Power of Sharing | Helps elderly customers on low or fixed incomes through participating Councils on Aging. | Cleco currently lists 16 participating councils. |
| SWEPCO | Neighbor to Neighbor | A grant can be applied directly to an account to prevent disconnection or restore service. | Application goes through a local community agency and available funding can vary. |
Entergy Louisiana
Entergy’s Louisiana bill-help page lists LIHEAP, payment arrangements, and The Power to Care. Entergy says Power to Care provides emergency bill help through local nonprofits for customers 60 or older or with disabilities. Use the Power to Care page to find a partner.
Cleco
Cleco’s customer-assistance page says CARE gives eligible customers a 25% discount on the fuel portion of the bill. LIHEAP recipients are automatically enrolled. Cleco also lists Power of Sharing for elderly customers on low or fixed incomes, credit extensions, and Critical Care Alert.
SWEPCO
SWEPCO’s payment-assistance page lists LIHEAP and Neighbor to Neighbor. Grants can go directly to an account to prevent disconnection or restore service. The Neighbor to Neighbor page sends Louisiana applicants to a local community action agency.
Medical Needs Can Change the Conversation With Your Utility
If anyone in the home depends on powered medical equipment, tell the utility before the disconnect stage. Ask what form is required, who must sign it, how long the status lasts, and whether it delays disconnection. A medical flag does not guarantee uninterrupted storm service or priority restoration.
Entergy Louisiana and Entergy New Orleans are not identical
Entergy Louisiana’s current medical-emergency page says a certified medical emergency can continue electric service for up to 30 days for qualifying customers. It lists continuous ventilator use and hospice care. The same page explicitly says common devices such as home oxygen, CPAP, BiPAP, dialysis machines, nebulizers, and breathing-treatment machines do not qualify for that particular 30-day program.
Entergy New Orleans publishes a broader list. Its current New Orleans medical page includes continuous ventilators, hospice, and devices such as home oxygen, CPAP, BiPAP, dialysis, nebulizers, and breathing-treatment machines. Because the two pages differ, use the page for the company named on your bill.
Cleco Critical Care Alert
Cleco says its Critical Care Alert program identifies customers whose health could be affected by loss of electricity and requires a physician-signed registration form. Call 1-800-622-6537 to ask for the form. Cleco does not describe this alert as debt forgiveness. If you owe a balance, ask separately about LIHEAP, CARE, a credit extension, and any protection that applies to the account.
If disability changes your household’s utility needs, the GFS Louisiana disability help guide can point to other support that may reduce pressure on the monthly budget.
Weatherization Can Lower Future Bills
Weatherization tries to lower future energy use. Louisiana Housing Corporation’s Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) can include insulation, air sealing, weather stripping, and duct sealing. The current Louisiana WAP page says availability is not guaranteed and gives extra waiting-list points to households with someone age 60 or older.
The WAP page still displays a 2025 income table, so GFS is not repeating those figures as a current October 2026 eligibility test. Ask the WAP provider serving your area for the current household-income limit.
If you want a national explanation of what weatherization can and cannot pay for, see GFS’s senior weatherization guide. If the home also needs roof, electrical, plumbing, accessibility, or safety repairs beyond weatherization, use the Louisiana home repair guide.
New utility efficiency programs started in 2026
The LPSC says its Louisiana Energy Efficiency Programs began January 1, 2026 for regulated investor-owned electric utilities and Group 1 gas utilities, with links to Cleco Power Wise, Entergy Solutions, SWEPCO programs, Atmos, and Delta Utilities. Check the LPSC efficiency page before paying for an upgrade on your own.
Cleco also offers income-qualified Power Wise weatherization with qualified measures at no out-of-pocket cost on a first-come, first-served basis. In Orleans Parish, Entergy New Orleans customers have a separate route through Energy Smart. The current Energy Smart assessment page offers free home assessments and lists 2026 income-qualified weatherization for eligible households.
Water-Bill Help Is More Local
The federal Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) was an emergency program funded through March 2024. The federal LIHWAP fact sheet confirms that end date. In 2026, do not treat an old Louisiana LIHWAP page as an active statewide application.
Start with the local water or sewer utility. Ask for a payment plan, hardship program, charity fund, or community partners. Louisiana 211 can also search for local water-bill resources.
New Orleans Water Help Program
Orleans Parish has a verified local exception worth knowing. The Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans (SWBNO) says its Water Help Program can provide up to $200 per year as a credit for water and sewer charges. It does not cover City sanitation fees. The program is administered by Total Community Action and is for qualifying Orleans Parish customers who are at least 62, disabled, or otherwise meet the program’s economic rules. SWBNO also offers payment-plan options for past-due balances.
This program is local to SWBNO customers; it is not a statewide water benefit. Elsewhere, ask the water provider and your local community action agency what is actually open in your parish.
How to Start Without Wasting Time
- Look at the bill. Write down the utility name, account number, amount due, disconnect date, and whether service is already off.
- Call the parish LIHEAP office. Ask whether crisis help is open and which income standard applies after October 1, 2026.
- Call the utility. Ask about a payment arrangement, hold, hardship fund, medical status, and third-party notices.
- Gather proof. Missing documents can slow the case.
- Use a backup. If LIHEAP cannot help, call 211, a Council on Aging, and local charities.
Document checklist
- Current electric and gas bills.
- Disconnect or pending-disconnect notice, if any.
- Photo identification.
- Proof of current address.
- Social Security cards or other required household identity documents.
- Recent pay stubs for workers in the home.
- Social Security, pension, disability, unemployment, or other income proof.
- Medical certification if you are asking for a medical-account protection.
- Lease or landlord information if the utility is not directly in your name.
If a rent problem and utility debt are happening together, the Louisiana housing assistance guide may reveal a stronger combined route.
Reality Checks and Common Mistakes
Funding is not guaranteed. LIHEAP, utility charity funds, weatherization, and local nonprofit help can run out or pause intake. A program name on a website does not mean money is available on the day you call.
Do not use an expired income table
The FFY2026 LIHEAP table ended September 30, 2026. Ask the local agency for the current FFY2027 number. LHC’s weatherization page also shows an older income table.
Do not wait for a disconnect date
If the account has a shutoff notice, say so in the first sentence of every call.
Do not assume medical status pays the bill
A medical certification may change disconnection handling, but it does not erase the balance. Ask about medical and payment rules separately.
Do not pay an LIHEAP application fee
LHC says LIHEAP has no application fee and its agencies will not ask for account passwords, bank-routing information, or credit-card information.
Do not assume one regulator covers every account
Entergy New Orleans is under New Orleans City Council regulation. Other electric and gas companies may be under LPSC rules. Municipal utilities can have their own procedures. Always match the rule to the company shown on the bill.
If LIHEAP Is Closed, Delayed, or Cannot Help
Ask the local agency why the case cannot move forward. If the problem is a missing document, ask exactly what is acceptable and how to submit it. If the issue is income, ask which current program-year limit the office used. If the problem is lack of funds, ask whether there is a waiting list, a crisis fund, or a date to call back.
Then build a second path. Call the utility for a payment arrangement and company assistance program. Call your Council on Aging. Call 211. Look for community and faith-based help through GFS’s Louisiana charities guide. These programs often have different funding sources, so one denial does not always mean every route is closed.
Phone Scripts You Can Use
Parish LIHEAP agency
“I am calling about help with my home energy bill. I am age ___ and live in ___ Parish. I have a disconnect notice dated ___. Is crisis LIHEAP open, what income limit is in effect now, and what documents should I bring?”
Utility payment department
“I cannot pay the full balance before the disconnect date. I am applying for assistance. What payment arrangement, extension, hardship fund, or hold is available on this account, and what amount must I pay to keep service on?”
Medical household
“Someone in this home depends on medical equipment. What medical certification program applies to my account? Please tell me the exact form, who must sign it, how long it lasts, and whether it changes a scheduled disconnection.”
Council on Aging or charity
“I am an older adult with a past-due utility bill. My parish LIHEAP office is unable to help right now. Do you have a utility fund, emergency payment, referral partner, or another program accepting applications?”
Resumen en Español
Si necesita ayuda con la luz o el gas en Louisiana, empiece con la agencia de LIHEAP de su parroquia. Al 3 de octubre de 2026, la solicitud estatal en línea está cerrada y las citas de crisis se manejan con la agencia local.
No use la tabla de ingresos de FFY2026 como vigente: terminó el 30 de septiembre de 2026 y los límites debían cambiar el 1 de octubre. Pregunte a la agencia local por el límite actual. Si tiene aviso de corte, llame también a la compañía y pida un plan de pago o ayuda.
Entergy, Cleco y SWEPCO tienen programas diferentes. Si una persona en el hogar depende de equipo médico, pregunte por el programa médico específico de su compañía. Para ayuda local adicional, marque 211 o envíe su código postal por texto al 898-211.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Louisiana LIHEAP open right now?
As of October 3, 2026, Louisiana Housing Corporation says statewide online applications are closed and directs people who need crisis appointments or application help to the local partner serving their parish. Call the parish agency to ask what crisis or seasonal intake is open today.
What is the current Louisiana LIHEAP income limit?
Do not use the FFY2026 dollar table as a current October 2026 limit. The official notice was effective only through September 30, 2026 and said the limits would change October 1. Ask the parish LIHEAP agency for the current FFY2027 limit for your household size.
Does being 60 or older guarantee utility help?
No. Age can help with some programs, but income, account status, service area, household facts, and available funding still matter. Entergy Power to Care serves qualifying customers age 60+ or customers with disabilities, while Louisiana WAP gives extra waiting-list points to households with someone age 60+.
Can my power be disconnected during extreme weather?
For utilities under LPSC jurisdiction, an extreme-weather order blocks certain residential disconnections when the prior day’s high did not exceed 32°F and the temperature is forecast to remain at or below that level for the next 24 hours, or when the National Weather Service issues a heat advisory. Entergy New Orleans is regulated separately by the New Orleans City Council.
Can a medical condition stop an Entergy shutoff?
Entergy has certified medical-emergency rules, but the qualifying conditions differ between Entergy Louisiana and Entergy New Orleans. Entergy Louisiana currently lists continuous ventilator use and hospice for its up-to-30-day continuation, while the New Orleans page lists a broader set of equipment. Ask Entergy which rule applies to your exact account and obtain the required medical form.
Is there still a statewide water-bill program like LIHWAP?
The temporary federal LIHWAP program was funded through March 2024, so old LIHWAP pages should not be treated as a current statewide application route. Ask your local water utility about payment plans and local aid. In Orleans Parish, SWBNO currently lists a Water Help Program for qualifying customers.
About This Guide
This guide uses official federal, state, local, and other high-trust nonprofit and community sources mentioned 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, and availability can change. Readers should confirm current details directly with the official program before acting.
Last updated: October 19, 2026 · Next review: January 17, 2027
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