When money is tight, keeping the heat on during the winter can be hard to do. It shouldn’t be. Having heat and light is essential and several organizations in southern Colorado want to help you and your family pay your bills this winter, if you can’t do it on your own.
Please do not suffer through cold winters with freezing pipes and the constant threat of losing your electricity.
Low-Income Energy Assistance Program is a federally funded, state-supervised and county-administered program designed to help residents pay their winter heating bills. A family of four can qualify for assistance paying utility bills if the household income is less than $2,994 per month.
You can access this cash assistance program through the El Paso County Department of Human Services or through Colorado Springs Utilities. The ERC can also help you apply for this program.
The Home Efficiency Assistance Program is designed to help low- and middle-income families in the Colorado Springs Utilities service area reduce their utility bills by making their homes more energy efficient.
The Energy Resource Center administers this program, conducting free home energy audits and weatherization improvements for income-qualified residents of El Paso, Teller, Fremont, Elbert, Douglas, Alamosa, Conejos, Costilla, Mineral, Saguache and Rio Grande counties.
Other area nonprofits
In addition to these well-established programs to help southern Colorado families with their utility bills in the short and long term, several area nonprofits can provide assistance to people who are having trouble paying their energy bills.
- Eastern El Paso Community Center
(719) 347-2976
This center in Calhan can help local residents with food, utility, medical and transportation expenses. - Holy Apostles Outreach
(719) 597-4249
This religious charity can help residents with housing, medical, dental and utility needs. - Home Front Cares
(719) 434-1501
This nonprofit is dedicated to helping active duty and military veterans and their families. If you are a member of the military and need help paying your utility bills, contact this organization for help. - Project COPE
(719) 668-3804
This organization provides utility assistance to families in crisis year round — not just in the winter.
Though we do not provide direct financial assistance, the ERC provides free home energy audits and weatherization improvements for income-qualified residents of El Paso, Teller, Fremont, Elbert, South Douglas, Alamosa, Conejos, Costilla, Mineral, Saguache and Rio Grande counties, we also help people find the immediate help they need whether we provide it or not.