Before Winter: Ways to Trim Your Heating Bill First
Before you set out to earn money for a bill, it is worth asking a simpler question: can the bill itself be made smaller? With cold weather on the way, the heating bill is a good one to look at now.
LIHEAP: help paying heating bills
The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP, is a federal program run through the states. According to USA.gov, it helps eligible households pay heating or cooling bills and can offer emergency help in an energy crisis. In some places it can help with electric bills too.
Each state sets its own income limits and its own dates, so the best step is to ask your local office directly. Some offices take applications online; others ask you to apply in person.
To find where to apply, you can call the free National Energy Assistance Referral line at 1-866-674-6327, or email energyassistance@ncat.org with your city, county and state.
One note on timing: LIHEAP money depends on yearly funding from Congress. In April 2026, the American Public Power Association reported that all of the 2026 federal LIHEAP funds had reached the states, and that the 2027 budget request again proposed ending the program. What that means for this winter can differ by state, so ask early.
Weatherization: a longer-term fix
The Department of Energy’s Weatherization Assistance Program pays for energy-saving improvements to homes of eligible low-income households, at no cost to them. USA.gov says you may qualify based on income, or if you already receive SSI or TANF. The Energy Department cites a national study finding that households save $372 or more a year after weatherization. Contact your state’s weatherization office to apply.
Call your utility, too
Your gas or electric company may have its own payment plans or help programs. It costs nothing to ask. USA.gov also notes that states have their own rules about when utilities can shut off service, and those rules can depend on the weather, your age and whether you have a disability.
Watch for utility scams
Scammers often pretend to be the utility company. AARP lists warning signs such as threats to shut off your service right away, demands for payment by gift card, cryptocurrency or prepaid debit card, and requests for your bank or Social Security number. If you get a call like that, hang up and call the number printed on your own bill. You can report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Then pick your bill
If help like this trims your heating bill, the amount you need to earn on the side shrinks, too. Results depend on where you live and what you qualify for, but even a smaller target can make your first bill feel within reach.
More on Replace a Bill
- Lifeline: A Federal Discount That Can Lower Your Phone or Internet Bill
- Rotate Your Streaming Services: Trim the Bill Before You Replace It
- Step 1: List Your Monthly Bills and Pick the First One to Replace
Sources
- USAGov: Get help with energy bills
- Administration for Children and Families: Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
- LIHEAP Clearinghouse: National Energy Assistance Referral
- American Public Power Association: Remaining FY 2026 LIHEAP Funds Disbursed to States (April 2026)
- U.S. Department of Energy: Weatherization Assistance Program
- AARP: Utility Scams Rising in PA: How to Spot and Stop Them
