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Last updated: October 22, 2026
Virginia utility help depends on the bill, the company, whether service is at risk, the time of year, and household income. The Virginia Department of Social Services handles major state energy programs, while utilities also offer payment and hardship options. Water help is more local because federal LIHWAP funding has ended.
If you need broader help beyond utilities, the Virginia senior benefits guide covers other major programs for older residents.
Bottom Line
Start with the Virginia Energy Assistance Program if you need help with heating or cooling costs. You can apply through CommonHelp, call 1-855-635-4370, or contact your local Department of Social Services office.
For 2026, statewide Fuel Assistance is scheduled for October 13 through November 13. Crisis Assistance opens in stages beginning November 1. If your electricity is from Dominion Energy Virginia or Appalachian Power, also check the year-round Percentage of Income Payment Program, or PIPP. If you already have a shutoff notice, do not wait for a regular seasonal program to open.
If Your Service May Be Shut Off
Call the utility and your local social services office the same day. Ask the utility to place a note on the account, explain every available payment plan, and tell you the exact date service could be disconnected. Then apply for any assistance that fits your household.
Virginia law gives residential customers important notice and temperature protections, but the rules are not identical for every utility. A state application by itself does not automatically stop a shutoff. Use the GFS shutoff action plan if you need a step-by-step checklist while making calls.
Start Here
- Identify the bill and company. Electric, gas, heating fuel, and water assistance use different routes.
- Check state energy help. Apply through CommonHelp or your local DSS office.
- Ask the utility too. Company hardship funds, payment plans, PIPP, or energy-efficiency programs can sometimes help when state assistance is not enough.
| Need | Best first route | 2026 timing | Important limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter heating costs | Virginia Fuel Assistance | October 13–November 13 | Income and heating-expense rules apply |
| No heat or heating shutoff | Crisis Assistance | Starts November 1 in stages | Help depends on the emergency and program dates |
| Ongoing electric affordability | PIPP | Year-round | Dominion Energy Virginia or Appalachian Power customers only |
| Summer cooling bill or equipment | Cooling Assistance | June 15–August 17 | Household must include a qualifying vulnerable person |
| Cooling device for a senior | Senior Cool Care | May 1–October 31 | Dominion service area and participating AAA rules |
| High bills caused by home energy loss | Weatherization | Apply through local provider | This is not a utility-bill payment program |
| Water bill | Utility, locality, or 211 | Varies locally | Federal LIHWAP funding has ended |
2026 Dates and Rules to Know
Fuel Assistance has a short fall window, Crisis Assistance opens later, and Cooling Assistance is seasonal. PIPP is year-round for eligible Dominion Energy Virginia and Appalachian Power customers.
As of October 3, 2026, state Cooling Assistance has closed for the year, while Senior Cool Care remains within its stated May 1 through October 31 season. Dominion EnergyShare’s heating period opened October 1. Local funding can still vary.
Virginia Energy Assistance Program
The Virginia Department of Social Services runs the Energy Assistance Program. Fuel, Crisis, and Cooling assistance require a heating or cooling expense and gross monthly household income generally at or below 150% of the federal poverty level.
Current income rule
Virginia’s current EAP page does not publish a 2026–2027 dollar table. HHS has published the 2026 poverty guidelines, but a program can use a different effective date. Confirm the exact dollar limit in CommonHelp or with local DSS instead of relying on an older table.
Fuel Assistance
Fuel Assistance helps offset home heating costs. For 2026, Virginia’s application window runs from the second Tuesday in October through the second Friday in November: October 13 through November 13, 2026. The state says eligibility notices are generally sent in late December.
If heat is already off or disconnection is close, use Crisis Assistance and the utility’s emergency options instead of waiting for Fuel Assistance.
Crisis Assistance
Crisis Assistance is for urgent heating problems. The state lists November 1 through March 15 for heating equipment repair or replacement and security deposits, and January through March 15 for primary heating fuel and utility bills. A crisis can include no heat, a cutoff notice, or unsafe heating equipment.
Cooling Assistance
Virginia’s 2026 Cooling Assistance period ran from June 15 through August 17. The household must have a cooling expense and include a vulnerable person, such as someone age 60 or older, a person with a disability, or a child under age 6. Help can include a window air conditioner, repair of certain cooling equipment, an electric bill, or an electric deposit.
How to apply
Apply through CommonHelp, call 1-855-635-4370, or contact local DSS. The GFS guide to Virginia benefits portals can help if you need orientation first.
Tribal households
If you are an enrolled tribal member, federal LIHEAP guidance says responsibility can vary by state and tribe. Contact both the tribal LIHEAP office and local LIHEAP office to confirm which one serves your household.
PIPP Can Lower Eligible Electric Bills
Virginia’s Percentage of Income Payment Program is one of the state’s most useful options for households that struggle with electric bills month after month. It is not a general LIHEAP benefit for every utility. Virginia law created PIPP for qualifying residential customers of Dominion Energy Virginia and Appalachian Power.
The current PIPP rules say household income must be at or below 150% of the federal poverty level. If electricity is the primary heat source, the PIPP payment is set at 10% of household income. If the household uses another primary heat source, it is set at 6%. A household reporting zero income has a $10 minimum payment.
PIPP can also reduce an existing electric arrearage. Each on-time, in-full payment can earn a credit for the current-bill difference and one-twelfth of the past-due balance set at enrollment. Twelve consecutive qualifying payments can clear that enrollment balance.
Income must be reverified at least every 12 months and after required household changes. PIPP does not cover a separate gas bill. For other debt and payment-plan routes, see utility bill help.
Virginia Shutoff Protections Depend on the Utility
Virginia does not have one blanket winter or summer shutoff ban. State law instead uses notice rules, minimum arrears periods, temperature limits, and protected days. The nonpayment waiting period differs between utilities covered by Title 56 and locality-owned utilities.
| Utility type | Arrears floor | Notice before shutoff | Where the rule appears |
|---|---|---|---|
| Utilities covered by the state Title 56 rule | At least 60 days in arrears | At least two methods, such as mail, email, text, phone, or door notice | Virginia Code rule |
| Locality-owned utility | At least 45 days in arrears | At least one listed notice method | Municipal utility rule |
Extreme-temperature rules
For utilities covered by Virginia’s temperature rule, electric service cannot be disconnected for nonpayment when the National Weather Service forecast shows a low of 32°F or below, or a temperature of 92°F or above within 24 hours after the planned disconnection. Natural-gas service has the 32°F protection. Water and wastewater service have the 92°F protection.
Virginia has a similar locality-owned utility rule. Both laws also restrict nonpayment shutoffs on Fridays, weekends, state holidays, and the day immediately before a state holiday. These protections address nonpayment and include exceptions for certain emergency health-and-safety disconnections and prepaid-service suspensions.
Reconnect deposits after energy assistance
Virginia’s current law also limits certain reconnect deposits for residential electric or gas customers when the utility received Virginia home-energy-assistance funding for that customer during the prior 12 months. The deposit may not exceed 25% of the arrearage, excluding fees, penalties, and interest, and the protection is limited to once every three years. Ask the utility to confirm whether this provision applies to your account.
Serious Medical Condition Protection
A serious medical condition can give a household more time before utility termination, but it does not erase the bill. Virginia’s medical-condition rule covers specified electric, electric-cooperative, natural-gas, water, and wastewater utilities.
If a valid Serious Medical Condition Certification Form is on file and the customer requests protection, termination must be delayed for at least an additional 30 calendar days beyond the normal notice period. If the form is not yet on file, a customer can give oral or written notice of the serious condition and receive up to 15 days to obtain the certification. That temporary 15-day route is limited to once in a 12-month period.
The State Corporation Commission provides the certification form and rules on its utility rules page. The regulation allows two 30-day termination delays within a 12-month period. If covered service was disconnected within the prior 14 days, the utility must promptly restore it after receiving or confirming the certification and a reconnection request; payment cannot be required as a condition of that medical reconnection, although an allowed reconnection fee may appear on the next bill.
Utility-Company Assistance Programs
Company programs can fill gaps before or after state assistance. Rules depend on the service territory, so start with the company shown on the bill.
| Utility | Program | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Dominion Energy Virginia | EnergyShare | Current page lists up to $600 during the October 1–May 31 heating period and up to $300 during the June 1–September 30 cooling period. Financial hardship is required; the page says there is no income restriction for bill-payment assistance. |
| Appalachian Power | Payment assistance | Current options include PIPP and Neighbor to Neighbor through Dollar Energy Fund. The utility also offers third-party notice for customers who want a trusted person alerted about a possible disconnect. |
| Virginia Natural Gas | EnergyShare | The current page routes customers to Salvation Army partners and says the program serves households facing hardship, including seniors and veterans. |
| Columbia Gas of Virginia | HeatShare | A last-resort assistance option administered through Dollar Energy Fund after other energy-assistance routes have been used. |
| Washington Gas | Customer resources | The current Virginia resource page includes Washington Area Fuel Fund information and Virginia energy-assistance materials. |
Utility funds can change during the year. A program listed here may still have local intake rules, funding limits, or required documents.
Extra Cooling Help for Older Adults
Virginia’s Senior Cool Care program is especially relevant to older adults. It is sponsored by Dominion Energy and administered through participating Area Agencies on Aging.
The current program page says a person must be age 60 or older, have income below 150% of the federal poverty level, live in the Dominion Energy service area, and need additional cooling. The program can provide a fan, window air conditioner, or portable air conditioner. The item belongs to the recipient.
The stated season runs from May 1 through the end of October. Senior Cool Care does not pay the electric bill, delivery, installation, or repair of a broken unit. Call your local aging agency to ask whether equipment is still available. The GFS directory of Virginia Area Agencies can help you find the right office.
Weatherization Can Reduce Future Bills
If high bills come from air leaks, poor insulation, or inefficient systems, bill assistance alone may not solve the problem. Virginia’s Weatherization Assistance Program works through local providers and can make energy-saving and health-and-safety improvements.
Work can include air sealing, insulation, ventilation, duct repair, efficient lighting, and certain heating or cooling repairs. Weatherization does not pay the utility bill. Apply through the provider serving your locality.
If the home cannot initially be weatherized because repairs are needed first, Virginia also has a deferral repair route for eligible homes that were deferred from weatherization. After qualifying repairs, the household can return to the weatherization process.
For more detail on the difference between energy upgrades and bill help, see the GFS weatherization guide. Owners facing broader safety or repair problems can also check Virginia home repair help.
Utility efficiency programs
Dominion Energy also offers income and age programs with no-cost energy-efficiency services for qualifying customers. Its age-and-income path is for customers age 60 or older who meet the program’s income test. Appalachian Power offers a low-income weatherization program for qualifying customers through Community Housing Partners.
Water-Bill Help Is Mostly Local Now
The federal Low Income Household Water Assistance Program was temporary. The Office of Community Services says LIHWAP funding ended, so new federal LIHWAP benefits are not available.
Local help may still exist. Search 211 Virginia resources by ZIP code and ask the water provider about hardship funds, payment plans, leak adjustments, and restoration requirements.
Virginia’s shutoff statutes also contain protections for water and wastewater customers, including the 92°F restriction described earlier. If a local nonprofit route is needed, the GFS Virginia charities guide gives additional places to try.
How to Start Without Wasting Time
Have the account information ready before you call. Different programs ask for different documents, but these items are commonly useful:
- Utility bill showing the account number and service address.
- Shutoff or past-due notice, if you have one.
- Names and dates of birth for household members.
- Recent proof of gross household income.
- Information about the home’s main heating source.
- Proof of identity and other eligibility information requested by the program.
- Medical certification paperwork if you need serious-medical-condition protection.
Write down the name of each person you speak with, the date and time, what they said, and any confirmation number. If the utility promises a hold or payment arrangement, ask for the terms in writing when possible.
Reality Checks
- Applying does not always stop disconnection. Confirm directly with the utility whether a hold is on the account.
- Funding can run out. A valid program may have limited local money or equipment.
- Payment may go to the provider. Many utility programs credit the utility account rather than giving cash to the household.
- Municipal rules can differ. A city-owned utility follows a different arrears statute from utilities covered by the Title 56 rule.
- Weatherization is not emergency bill aid. It is a longer-term way to lower energy use and improve the home.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Waiting for the Fuel Assistance window when service is already at risk.
- Assuming Virginia has a blanket winter shutoff ban.
- Trying to use PIPP for a gas bill or for an electric company outside Dominion Energy Virginia and Appalachian Power.
- Searching for new LIHWAP applications even though federal water-assistance funding ended.
- Assuming a weatherization application will pay a current utility arrearage.
- Ignoring a utility notice because an assistance application was submitted.
Denied, Delayed, or Overwhelmed
If Virginia DSS denies Energy Assistance, read the notice and use its appeal instructions. For a billing or shutoff dispute, first try to resolve the issue directly with the utility.
For a utility regulated by the State Corporation Commission, you can then use the SCC complaint process. For a disconnection complaint, the SCC tells customers to call promptly. Its toll-free number is 1-800-552-7945. The SCC does not handle billing disputes for municipally owned electric, gas, water, or sewer utilities, so those customers should use the locality’s complaint or governing process.
If the main program cannot act fast enough, call 211, ask your Area Agency on Aging about emergency funds, and check emergency financial help. If utility bills are competing with food costs, the Virginia SNAP guide may help.
Phone Scripts You Can Use
Calling Virginia DSS
“I need help with my home energy bill. My utility is [company] and my main heat is [type]. Which Energy Assistance Program component is open now, and what documents should I submit?”
Calling the utility about shutoff
“I may be disconnected. Please tell me the exact shutoff date, every payment plan or assistance program available, and whether a hold can be placed while I apply for help.”
Asking about medical protection
“Someone in my household has a serious medical condition. Please tell me how to get and submit the certification form and what protection applies while I obtain it.”
Calling an Area Agency
“I am 60 or older and need cooling help. Do you participate in Senior Cool Care, is equipment available now, and what documents should I bring?”
Resumen en Español
Virginia ofrece ayuda para calefacción y aire acondicionado por medio del Departamento de Servicios Sociales. Puede solicitar en CommonHelp, llamar al 1-855-635-4370 o comunicarse con la oficina local de servicios sociales. Para 2026, Fuel Assistance acepta solicitudes del 13 de octubre al 13 de noviembre. Crisis Assistance comienza el 1 de noviembre para ciertos problemas urgentes de calefacción.
Si tiene un aviso de desconexión, llame primero a la compañía de servicios y pregunte la fecha exacta de corte, los planes de pago y cualquier programa de ayuda. Virginia tiene reglas especiales para temperaturas extremas y para ciertos hogares con una condición médica seria. Estas reglas pueden retrasar una desconexión, pero no eliminan la deuda.
PIPP está disponible todo el año para clientes elegibles de Dominion Energy Virginia y Appalachian Power. La ayuda para agua depende más de programas locales porque el programa federal LIHWAP ya no tiene fondos. También puede llamar al 211 para buscar ayuda local.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is LIHEAP called something different in Virginia?
Virginia delivers federal home-energy help through its Energy Assistance Program, which includes Fuel, Crisis, and Cooling Assistance. Apply through CommonHelp, the state call center, or local DSS.
Do seniors automatically qualify for utility assistance?
No. Age can matter for some programs, such as Senior Cool Care and Cooling Assistance, but income, household size, utility expense, service territory, and the type of need can also determine eligibility.
Can a Virginia utility shut off service in winter?
Virginia does not use a simple blanket winter moratorium for every utility. State law restricts nonpayment disconnections during specified low temperatures, high temperatures, Fridays, weekends, and certain holidays. Notice and arrears rules also apply.
Can PIPP help with my natural-gas bill?
No. Virginia PIPP is an electric-bill program for eligible Dominion Energy Virginia and Appalachian Power customers. A separate gas bill needs another assistance or payment-plan route.
Where can I get help with a water bill?
Start with the water provider and 211 Virginia. Ask about local hardship funds, payment plans, leak adjustments, and restoration rules. Federal LIHWAP funding has ended, so water assistance is now largely local.
Does medical certification erase utility debt?
No. Virginia’s serious-medical-condition protection can delay termination and may support restoration in certain situations, but it does not forgive the bill. Keep working on payment and assistance options during the protected period.
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 22, 2026 · Next review: January 20, 2027
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