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North Dakota utility help
Last updated: October 6, 2026
North Dakota has separate help paths for heating, electric, gas, water, and phone bills. The best starting point depends on the bill, your utility, and whether you face a shutoff or fuel emergency.
This guide focuses on the routes that are active and useful in North Dakota now. For a national overview of programs that may appear on utility bills, see our utility bill help guide.
Bottom Line
For heating help, start with North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). If you already have a disconnect notice, are out of fuel, or have an unsafe heating problem, tell HHS and your utility that it is an emergency. If you are age 65 or older and use a regulated investor-owned electric or gas utility, North Dakota also gives you special disconnection protections. These protections can delay a shutoff, but they do not erase the bill and there is no blanket winter shutoff ban.
Need Help With a Shutoff or No Heat?
Call before the shutoff date. North Dakota HHS lists a disconnection notice, being out of deliverable fuel, and certain minor repairs as energy emergencies under LIHEAP. Call the HHS Customer Support Center at 1-866-614-6005 or 701-328-1000. TTY users can dial 711. The North Dakota LIHEAP page also gives online, mail, and local application routes.
For another emergency route, call FirstLink at 2-1-1 or 701-235-7335 for statewide local referrals. Our North Dakota emergency guide covers other urgent bill, food, housing, and safety needs.
Start Here
- Call the utility first if you have a late or disconnect notice. Ask for the exact amount needed to stop disconnection and whether a payment plan is available.
- Apply for LIHEAP if the problem is home heating, fuel, a heating emergency, weatherization, a furnace problem, or an eligible cooling device.
- Use Community Action or 211 when LIHEAP does not cover the whole problem, when you need Energy Share, or when the bill is water or another local utility cost.
| Problem | Best first route | What it may do | Key limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heating bill or fuel | North Dakota LIHEAP | Partially pays approved home heating costs | Income and program rules apply |
| Disconnect notice | Utility + HHS | Payment plan, crisis help, or a protected delay | PSC protections depend on utility type |
| Emergency electric balance | Community Action | Energy Share may help after other resources | Emergency funding and local rules vary |
| Home loses too much heat | Weatherization | Energy audit and approved efficiency work | Not a general home-repair program |
| Water or sewer arrears | Local utility + 211 | Payment plan or local emergency referral | Help is often local and funding varies |
| Phone or internet | Lifeline | Monthly service discount | Eligibility rules apply |
What Changed for 2026
North Dakota’s 2026–2027 LIHEAP income limits took effect on October 1, 2026. Applications and eligibility are now year-round. HHS also moved households to an annual review cycle rather than requiring everyone to start over at the same seasonal deadline.
Important official-source conflict: The current HHS LIHEAP page says heating benefits are now issued year-round. However, an August 2026 plan notice says year-round eligibility will continue while regular heating benefits remain limited to the established heating season or funding availability. The state’s vendor guidance also still describes a summer pause for ordinary heating payments. Because these first-party pages conflict, ask the HHS Customer Support Center how summer heating payments apply to your household before relying on a payment outside the traditional heating season.
Another change affects homeowners looking for old utility-debt help. North Dakota’s Help for Homeowners program stopped accepting applications on September 4, 2026. Do not spend time preparing a new application for that closed program.
LIHEAP Is the Main Heating-Assistance Route
North Dakota LIHEAP is not a senior-only program. It is an income-based home-energy program for eligible households, including both homeowners and renters. It can partially pay for natural gas, electricity, propane, fuel oil, coal, wood, and other approved heating sources. HHS also connects eligible households to weatherization, furnace services, emergency help, and some cooling-device assistance.
LIHEAP applications are accepted year-round. Apply online, return a paper application, request one by mail, or use a Human Service Zone office. Community Options can help with the form and may arrange in-home application help at 1-800-823-2417. Our North Dakota benefits portals guide explains the state online systems.
2026–2027 LIHEAP income limits
For the period October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027, HHS says household income must be at or below 60% of North Dakota’s median income and within the monthly limits below.
| Household size | Monthly income limit |
|---|---|
| 1 | $3,446 |
| 2 | $4,507 |
| 3 | $5,567 |
| 4 | $6,628 |
| 5 | $7,688 |
| 6 | $8,749 |
| 7 | $8,947 |
| 8 | $9,146 |
| 9 | $9,345 |
| 10 | $9,544 |
| 11 | $9,743 |
| 12 | $9,942 |
These limits are screening figures, not a promise of eligibility. HHS uses household information and required verification to make the decision. Check the current LIHEAP limits before applying if your household changes.
What to send with the application
HHS asks for recent income proof, certain expenses from the prior 12 months, a heating bill, and a lease if you rent. Medical expenses are among the listed items. The LIHEAP FAQ says applicants should receive a Notice of Eligibility within 45 days and should return verifications within 30 days of the application being received.
Reality check: LIHEAP is not a promise that every utility balance will be paid in full. HHS describes the program as partially paying home heating costs, and some services may require a household share based on income.
North Dakota Shutoff Protections Matter More at Age 65
North Dakota does not have a blanket rule that stops all electric or natural-gas disconnections during winter. Instead, the Public Service Commission (PSC) has specific notice and delay rules for customers of regulated investor-owned utilities.
Under the PSC’s disconnection protection rules, a regulated utility must normally give at least 10 days’ written notice. Personal delivery of the notice is required for a customer who has a disability or is age 65 or older. During that 10-day notice period, a customer can ask to postpone disconnection for up to 30 days if the customer is 65 or older, has a disability, or a dangerous health condition exists.
The same PSC guidance says you may register with the utility before a problem develops if you are 65 or older, have a disability, or have an emergency medical problem in the household. You can also request a Third Party Notice so a trusted person receives copies of important disconnection notices.
These PSC rules are mandatory for investor-owned utilities: Montana-Dakota Utilities, Xcel Energy/NSP, Otter Tail Power, Great Plains Natural Gas, and Dakota Natural Gas. The PSC says municipal electric utilities and rural electric cooperatives are not required to follow these commission rules, although they may have their own similar protections. The PSC utility page explains this jurisdiction.
Do not confuse a delay with forgiveness. The 30-day protection does not cancel the bill. The PSC also says regulated customers must be given an opportunity to work out a monthly payment plan. If you miss an agreed payment arrangement, service may be cut off without another notice. Call the utility before the arrangement fails.
If a regulated utility is not giving you the required protection after you have contacted it, call the North Dakota PSC at 701-328-2400. Seniors with disability-related needs may also find useful state contacts in our North Dakota disability guide.
Energy Share Can Fill Some Emergency Gaps
Energy Share of North Dakota is a nonprofit emergency home-energy fund through Community Action. It focuses on energy obligations not covered by other assistance and normally comes after other potential resources have been exhausted.
Use the Energy Share page to reach Community Action. The statewide office lists 701-232-2452 and 1-800-726-7960. HHS says an approved LIHEAP household whose electricity is not the primary heat source can ask Community Action about Energy Share for emergency electric costs.
Community Action service areas matter. Use the current agency locations page rather than an old printed list. In particular, Red River Valley Community Action closed on August 15, 2025. CAPND says residents of Grand Forks, Nelson, Pembina, and Walsh Counties now have limited services routed through the Fargo and Jamestown regions. The Grand Forks update gives the current arrangement.
Weatherization, Furnace Help, and Cooling Devices
North Dakota’s Weatherization Assistance Program can provide an energy audit and approved energy-saving or health-and-safety work, such as air sealing, insulation, heating-system testing, and some furnace work when cost-effective. It is not a general remodeling program.
The North Dakota Department of Commerce says the 2026 weatherization income ceiling is 200% of the federal poverty level: $31,920 a year for one person and $43,280 for two people, with higher limits for larger households. LIHEAP clients are automatically income-eligible for weatherization. The state weatherization page has the full 2026 table and application route. Our weatherization guide explains what this kind of work can and cannot do.
For furnace problems, HHS says LIHEAP can help with furnace cleaning and may connect approved households with Community Action for repair or replacement. LIHEAP can also help eligible households with the purchase or repair of cooling devices. Current vendor guidance says the cooling benefit is for equipment, not ordinary summer electric bills unless an emergency is approved.
Water, Sewer, and Other Local Utility Bills
LIHEAP is mainly a home-energy program, so do not assume it will pay a water or sewer arrearage. North Dakota once had another route for some homeowners: Help for Homeowners could pay past-due water, home-energy, electricity, and garbage balances. HHS now states that the homeowner program closed to new applications on September 4, 2026.
If the overdue bill is water, sewer, or another municipal charge, call the local utility first. Ask for a payment plan, hardship policy, senior or disability procedure, and the exact amount needed to prevent shutoff. Then call FirstLink 211 and your Community Action agency for current local emergency funds. Local programs can open, close, or run out of money, so a statewide article should not promise that the same water fund is available in every city.
If utility arrears are tied to a housing crisis, our North Dakota housing guide covers separate rent and housing-stability routes.
Lifeline Can Lower Phone or Internet Costs
Lifeline is a federal monthly discount for qualifying low-income households. The official program says the standard benefit is up to $9.25 per month for internet or bundled service, or up to $5.25 per month for phone-only service. The enhanced benefit can be up to $34.25 per month for qualifying households on Tribal lands.
You can qualify through income or through certain benefit programs. The 2026 income rule is 135% of the federal poverty guidelines; the official table lists $21,546 a year for one person and $29,214 for two people in the contiguous states. Program-based routes include Medicaid, SNAP, Supplemental Security Income, Federal Public Housing Assistance, and certain veterans benefits. Check the Lifeline benefit rules and 2026 income table before applying.
Tribal Households May Use a Different LIHEAP Office
North Dakota HHS states that individual tribal LIHEAP programs serve tribal members living on reservations in the state. If that describes your household, do not assume the state HHS case route is the correct one. Contact your Tribal Social Services or tribal LIHEAP office first and ask which program has jurisdiction over your address.
If you are unsure which office should handle your household, call the HHS Customer Support Center and your tribal office before filing duplicate applications. This is especially important for people who have recently moved on or off reservation lands.
How to Start Without Wasting Time
- Identify the bill. Write down whether the problem is heat, electricity, gas, delivered fuel, water, sewer, phone, or internet.
- Mark the urgent date. If there is a disconnect or fuel-delivery deadline, put that date at the top of your notes.
- Call the provider. Ask what amount is needed to keep service on and what payment arrangement is available.
- Apply through the correct program. Use LIHEAP for home-energy help, Community Action for Energy Share and weatherization routes, and Lifeline for eligible phone or internet service.
- Keep proof. Save application confirmations, notices, names, dates, and every document you send.
| Document or fact | Why it helps | Common use |
|---|---|---|
| Utility or fuel bill | Shows provider, account, balance, and service address | LIHEAP, Energy Share, payment plans |
| Disconnect notice | Shows crisis date and amount | Emergency help, shutoff protection |
| Recent income proof | Used to screen financial eligibility | LIHEAP, weatherization, Lifeline |
| Medical expense proof | HHS asks for certain expenses paid over the last 12 months | LIHEAP verification |
| Lease | Shows rental and heating arrangements | LIHEAP for renters |
| Age or disability information | May trigger special utility notice or delay rights | PSC-regulated shutoff protections |
For other food, housing, health, and tax programs, use our North Dakota senior assistance guide. For local aging-services contacts, use our North Dakota aging agencies guide.
Reality Checks
- There is no blanket winter moratorium. Regulated utilities can disconnect in winter if the PSC rules are followed.
- Age 65 protection is not bill forgiveness. It can change notice and delay rights, but the balance still has to be resolved.
- Utility type matters. PSC consumer disconnection rules are mandatory for investor-owned utilities, not municipal electric systems or rural electric cooperatives.
- LIHEAP pages conflict on summer payments. Applications and eligibility are clearly year-round; summer regular heating payments should be confirmed with HHS because current first-party pages do not fully agree.
- Weatherization is not general repair money. Work must fit program energy, health, and safety rules.
- Local emergency funds can run out. Energy Share and local water or utility help may depend on current funding and local administration.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Waiting until the morning of a shutoff to call the utility or HHS.
- Assuming everyone age 65 automatically qualifies for LIHEAP. LIHEAP has income and household rules.
- Assuming winter means a regulated utility cannot disconnect service.
- Ignoring an annual LIHEAP review packet. HHS says benefits can end if the review is not completed on time.
- Failing to report required LIHEAP changes. HHS says certain changes, including a move, heat-source change, household-member change, or rent-subsidy change, must be reported within 10 days.
- Using an old Community Action contact for the Grand Forks region after the 2025 closure.
- Trying to apply for Help for Homeowners after it closed to new applications on September 4, 2026.
Denied, Delayed, or Stuck
If HHS denies LIHEAP or emergency assistance, read the notice and keep the envelope or electronic message. The state says you have the right to appeal a LIHEAP decision and provides the SFN 162 Request for Hearing on its LIHEAP page. The FAQ also says you can request a fair hearing if you do not receive written action on a heating-assistance application within 45 days.
If the problem is a regulated investor-owned utility not following PSC disconnection rules, first call the utility and explain which protection you are requesting. If that does not resolve the issue, call the PSC at 701-328-2400. If your utility is a municipal system or rural electric cooperative, ask that provider for its own written disconnection and hardship policy because PSC consumer rules do not apply in the same way.
Phone Scripts You Can Use
HHS LIHEAP emergency
“I live in North Dakota and I have a [disconnect notice / empty fuel tank / heating emergency]. My shutoff or fuel date is [date]. I want to apply for LIHEAP emergency help. What do you need from me today?”
Utility for a senior
“I am age 65 or older. I received a disconnection notice. Does your company fall under North Dakota PSC disconnection rules? I want to ask about the senior protection, a payment plan, and the amount needed to keep service on.”
Community Action
“I have an emergency utility balance and I have already checked LIHEAP. Is Energy Share or another emergency program available in my county? What proof should I bring?”
Water or local utility
“I am a senior with a past-due water or sewer bill. Do you have a payment plan, hardship policy, senior or disability protection, or a local emergency fund? What amount is needed to prevent shutoff?”
Resumen en Español
En North Dakota, la ayuda principal para calefacción es LIHEAP. Puede solicitar LIHEAP durante todo el año. Si tiene aviso de corte, se quedó sin combustible o tiene una emergencia de calefacción, llame a North Dakota HHS al 1-866-614-6005 o 701-328-1000 y diga que tiene una emergencia de energía.
Si tiene 65 años o más y recibe electricidad o gas de una compañía regulada por la Public Service Commission, puede tener protecciones especiales antes de un corte. Estas protecciones pueden retrasar el corte, pero no eliminan la deuda. North Dakota no prohíbe todos los cortes durante el invierno.
Community Action puede ayudar con Energy Share, climatización y algunas emergencias. Para agua, alcantarillado u otra ayuda local, llame primero a la compañía y después al 2-1-1. El programa Help for Homeowners ya no acepta solicitudes nuevas desde el 4 de septiembre de 2026. Guarde sus facturas, avisos de corte, comprobantes de ingresos y copias de todo lo que entregue.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can seniors apply for North Dakota LIHEAP?
Yes. LIHEAP is not limited to seniors, but an older adult household may apply if it meets the program rules. For October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027, the monthly income limit is $3,446 for one person and $4,507 for two people. HHS makes the final eligibility decision.
Does North Dakota stop utility shutoffs in winter?
No. The North Dakota Public Service Commission says its rules do not prohibit winter disconnections as long as the other required protections are followed. Regulated customers still have notice, payment-plan, and certain delay rights.
What protection do customers age 65 or older get?
For investor-owned utilities covered by PSC rules, customers age 65 or older must receive personal delivery of a disconnection notice and may request a delay of up to 30 days during the 10-day notice period. The bill remains due, and the rules are not mandatory for municipal electric utilities or rural electric cooperatives.
Can LIHEAP pay summer electric bills?
North Dakota’s official pages are not fully consistent. The current LIHEAP page says heating benefits are issued year-round, while an August 2026 draft plan notice and vendor guidance still describe seasonal limits for regular heating payments. Cooling-device help and approved emergencies are separate. Confirm summer bill treatment with HHS before relying on a regular LIHEAP payment.
Can I get help replacing a furnace?
Possibly. HHS says approved LIHEAP households may be referred to Community Action for furnace repair or replacement. Weatherization may also address heating-system work when it meets program rules. Approval depends on the household, the home, and the specific service.
Where can I get help with a water bill?
Start with the local water or municipal utility and ask about payment plans, hardship rules, and local emergency funds. Then call 2-1-1 and Community Action for current local referrals. The state Help for Homeowners program, which previously covered some water and utility arrears, stopped taking new applications on September 4, 2026.
What if I cannot manage the LIHEAP application?
Community Options can help with the North Dakota LIHEAP application and may arrange for an outreach worker to come to you. Call 1-800-823-2417. You can also contact the HHS Customer Support Center at 1-866-614-6005.
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 6, 2026 · Next review: January 4, 2027
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