Last updated: October 31, 2026
Bottom line
Vermont utility help comes through several programs. Use Vermont Fuel Assistance for seasonal heating costs, your utility for a payment plan or discount, and Community Action for winter heating emergencies. Call before a shutoff date because an application does not automatically protect the account.
As of October 21, 2026, the regular Crisis Fuel program is not yet in its winter application window. The state says applications usually start on the last Monday in November. Seasonal Fuel Assistance is a separate program and has an application path now. Check the official Crisis Fuel page before you request winter aid.
ASMOM’s national utility guide explains common energy-help terms. The Vermont help page covers other state programs.
This article gives general information. It does not promise Fuel Assistance, a crisis delivery, a discount, restored service, a repair, or an appeal result.
If service may be shut off
Call the utility now. Ask for the exact disconnect date, the minimum payment needed, a reasonable repayment plan, budget billing, and any medical or winter protection that may apply. Write down the representative’s name and confirmation number.
Call Vermont 211. Use Vermont 211 to search for local fuel funds, town assistance, churches, Community Action, food, shelter, and other emergency help. Dial 211 when the line works from your phone.
Contact Community Action. Use the state’s agency directory to find the office for your town. In October, ask about town aid, private fuel funds, or other backup help while winter Crisis Fuel is not open.
If utility loss is tied to rent, shelter, food, transportation, or family safety, use ASMOM’s Vermont emergency guide. For abuse or control of utilities and money, use the Vermont safety guide from a safer device.
What has changed for 2026–2027
- Income limits: Vermont DCF now lists its official 2026–2027 monthly income chart for Seasonal Fuel, GMP, Vermont Gas, and Crisis Fuel. The table below uses those state figures.
- Winter Crisis Fuel: The regular program is not open on October 21. DCF lists the usual start as the last Monday in November; check the page for any changed 2026–2027 schedule.
- Local utility help: DCF’s Energy Assistance page lists a 2026 VPPSA municipal utility discount window, which ended August 31. Ask your participating utility whether another enrollment period will be offered.
- Medical shutoff protection: State guidance explains that medical certificates can be completed by a doctor, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant, with time and frequency limits.
Do not use last winter’s benefit amount, discount enrollment dates, or emergency-fuel hours without checking the program first.
Where to start
Work on the bill that creates the greatest risk. A heating emergency, electric shutoff, and water notice may use different programs.
Heating costs
Apply for Seasonal Fuel Assistance through MyBenefits or by phone. It may help whether you buy fuel directly or heat is included in rent.
Past-due electricity or gas
Call the utility for a repayment plan, budget billing, and any income-based discount. Do this even when you are applying for Fuel Assistance.
No heat in winter
Call Community Action for Crisis Fuel screening during the winter season. Do not order a delivery or repair first unless the agency approves it.
Water or internet bill
Contact the provider and 211. The old statewide water program and the federal Affordable Connectivity Program are no longer open.
If several bills are behind, also check ASMOM’s Vermont housing guide and Vermont community guide.
Vermont utility help quick reference
| Problem | First contact | What to ask | Reality check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seasonal heating costs | DCF or MyBenefits | Seasonal Fuel Assistance | It pays part of eligible heating costs, not the full season. |
| Winter heating emergency | Community Action | Crisis Fuel or heating-system help | Not open on October 21; usual start is late November. |
| Electric or gas arrears | Utility company | Repayment plan, budget billing, discount | A discount may not remove the old balance. |
| Medical shutoff risk | Utility and clinician | Medical certificate from a qualified clinician | The protection is temporary and has yearly limits. |
| Water or sewer bill | Local provider and 211 | Payment plan, town fund, leak review | There is no current statewide LIHWAP benefit. |
Seasonal Fuel Assistance
Vermont Seasonal Fuel Assistance is the state’s main Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program benefit. It helps eligible households pay part of their home heating costs. It can cover fuel oil, kerosene, propane, natural gas, electricity used for heat, wood, pellets, and other approved heating sources.
Homeowners and renters can apply. You may also qualify if heat is part of your rent. DCF decides which people count as one fuel household; for example, a roomer or caretaker may be listed but not counted for income in some cases. People in subsidized housing may face different benefit rules. Ask DCF rather than assuming you are ineligible.
How to apply
Apply through Vermont MyBenefits, call the Benefits Service Center at 1-800-479-6151, or request a paper application or help at a DCF district office. Dial 711 for telecommunications relay service. New applicants can apply for Fuel Assistance only or along with other programs. If you received Fuel Assistance last season, DCF says it sends an annual review form; return it and any requested proof.
The heating period used for 2025–2026 benefits has ended. Apply for the 2026–2027 season now and ask DCF about your benefit notice and when any credit will be paid. Amounts depend on the household, how heat is paid, program calculations, and available funds. Do not assume that applying stops a utility disconnection.
Current income screens
Vermont lists a monthly gross-income screen of 185% of federal poverty guidelines for Seasonal Fuel Assistance and 200% for Crisis Fuel. These are the DCF-published 2026–2027 monthly limits, rounded as shown by the state. DCF makes the final decision after reviewing household size, income, and program rules.
| Household size | Seasonal Fuel: 185% | Crisis Fuel: 200% |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2,461 | $2,660 |
| 2 | $3,336 | $3,606 |
| 3 | $4,212 | $4,554 |
| 4 | $5,088 | $5,500 |
| 5 | $5,963 | $6,446 |
| 6 | $6,839 | $7,394 |
| 7 | $7,715 | $8,340 |
| 8 | $8,590 | $9,286 |
Check the official DCF income chart for larger households and updates. The VTLawHelp energy guide explains eligibility in plain language, but its calculated cents can differ from the state’s rounded chart. If income changes each week, apply and let DCF check your records. An income screen is not a promise of eligibility or a benefit.
Crisis Fuel Assistance
Crisis Fuel is the winter emergency part of Vermont’s heating program. Community Action agencies screen households for a heating crisis, income, and other conditions. DCF says the program may help pay for the primary heat source, electricity needed to run the heating system, or steps to prevent shutoff. Furnace repair emergencies use separate screening and may have different hours.
DCF says bulk-fuel applications normally run from the last Monday in November to the second Friday in April. Metered heating (electric or natural gas) normally runs from the same Monday to the last regular working day in April. As of October 21, 2026, that winter application window has not started; the next usual opening would be November 30, 2026 if the published schedule holds. Confirm actual opening dates and funding with your local Crisis Fuel program before visiting.
Do not order fuel or finish a furnace repair and expect the program to repay it. DCF says it cannot cover fuel already delivered or completed furnace work. Call your Community Action office first and ask how to get approval. Outside the winter window, ask Community Action and 211 about town aid, charities, and private fuel funds; an emergency program may still be unavailable.
What to say when calling
Give your town, heating source, fuel level, shutoff date, household size, and any serious health risk. Ask whether the current program is open and what proof is required before a delivery or repair can be approved.
After-hours heating emergencies
DCF lists separate after-hours services when these programs are running: 1-866-331-7741 for out-of-fuel or no-heat emergencies on weekends and holidays (8:30 a.m.–4 p.m.), and 1-877-295-7998 for qualifying furnace or heating-system failures on evenings, weekends, and holidays. The out-of-fuel hotline requires a household member who is 60 or older, younger than 6, or receives federal disability benefits. Furnace failure screening has different rules. Do not assume these lines are open in October: the DCF after-hours page still lists its January–April 2026 season, so confirm 2026–2027 activation and hours before relying on it. For an immediate risk to life, call 911.
Electric and gas discounts
Income-based discounts lower new monthly charges. They may not erase an old balance, so ask about a repayment plan at the same time.
| Utility | Current help | Important detail |
|---|---|---|
| Green Mountain Power | GMP Energy Assistance gives an eligible household 25% off monthly energy charges. DCF says some new members may receive past-due forgiveness. | Income screen: 185% of poverty. Submit the application and electric bill to DCF. Reapply yearly. |
| Burlington Electric | BED Energy Assistance gives eligible Burlington Electric customers 12.5% off energy and customer charges. | Income screen: 185% of poverty. Fuel Assistance, 3SquaresVT, or housing help may serve as proof. Call 802-865-7300. |
| Vermont Gas | The Vermont Gas program gives a 20% monthly gas-bill discount. | Income screen: 185% of poverty. Attach a recent gas bill, submit to DCF, and reapply each year. |
| Participating VPPSA town utilities | DCF listed a $29.55 monthly energy discount for eligible customers in select towns in 2026. | The April 7–August 31, 2026 enrollment window has ended. Ask your town utility about future rounds. |
| Other utilities | Ask about hardship funds, budget billing, arrears plans, and medical protection. | Programs differ by municipal utility, cooperative, fuel dealer, and water provider. |
Vermont utility rules provide budget billing and repayment options for covered residential gas and electric customers. If you owe money, ask whether a budget amount can be combined with a payment plan on the past-due balance. A discount or Fuel Assistance award does not always clear debt.
Lowering food and child care costs may make the plan easier to keep. Check ASMOM’s Vermont SNAP guide, Vermont TANF guide, and Vermont child care guide.
GMP Power Partners: VTLawHelp also describes a special past-due-bill program for some Green Mountain Power customers with a disconnect notice. You must contact GMP before the first shutoff date on the notice. Ask about Power Partners at 1-888-835-4672; the usual plan requires you to pay part of the debt and has limits, including prior-use rules. Read VTLawHelp’s instructions and confirm the current offer with GMP.
Shutoff protections and complaints
Vermont Public Utility Commission Rule 3.300 sets rules for many regulated residential electric, natural-gas, and private-water disconnections. These rules do not apply the same way to every fuel seller or town-run water service. The state’s utility payment and disconnection guide explains notice, reasonable repayment plans, and medical protections. If you share your income and pay schedule, the utility must consider them when negotiating a reasonable arrangement.
Medical protection
A doctor, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant may write a medical certificate if losing service would cause an immediate and serious health risk to someone in your home. Tell the covered utility if the note is coming; state guidance says you have seven days to provide it. A valid note generally gives 30 days of protection, including the promise period, and no more than three notes a year or two in a row without a PUC waiver. The bill still must be paid. Ask the utility or Consumer Affairs, 1-800-622-4496, to check your rights for your situation.
Winter protections
Vermont has added winter disconnection safeguards, including temperature-based rules for covered utilities and special provisions for some older household members. The rules depend on the dates, weather forecasts, utility, and customer notices. Do not assume a blanket winter ban. Ask Consumer Affairs to check the current Rule 3.300 before your scheduled shutoff. Past versions refer to 10°F weather protection and a special 32°F provision for some households with a member 62 or older; confirm the current rule and required proof before relying on either one.
Renters and landlord bills
If a landlord is responsible for the bill, special tenant notice and account-transfer protections may apply to covered utilities. A tenant should not simply accept a landlord’s past debt as their own. Ask Consumer Affairs and a tenant-rights lawyer about your lease, notices, and options before agreeing to take on a disputed balance.
Use the Vermont Department of Public Service consumer protections page and its October 2026 posted Rule 3.300 document for the latest wording rather than an earlier legislative draft. For a regulated utility dispute, contact Consumer Affairs at 1-800-622-4496. For propane or fuel-oil dealer issues, ask about the Vermont Attorney General’s Consumer Assistance Program. This is general information, not legal advice.
Lower future bills with weatherization
Weatherization is a longer-term energy program for eligible renters and homeowners. It may provide free insulation, air sealing, energy checks, and related improvements through Vermont’s Community Action agencies.
Start with the income-qualified weatherization service or ask a Community Action agency about Vermont’s Weatherization Assistance Program. DCF says people with active Seasonal Fuel Assistance are also eligible for free weatherization services. Work follows a home review; renters may need owner permission, and repairs for safety issues may need to come first.
Weatherization does not pay a current shutoff notice. Use it with Fuel Assistance, a utility plan, and any discount for which you qualify.
Water, phone, and internet help
Water and sewer bills
Vermont’s statewide temporary Low Income Household Water Assistance Program ended in March 2024. Water or sewer help may still exist in your town. Ask your provider about an affordable payment plan, leak adjustment, hardship fund, and any local discount, then call 211. Burlington residents: the city has payment plans and leak-review options. Burlington Electric’s discount form also offers a request to share eligibility with Burlington Water Resources for a possible Water Resources Assistance Program meter-fee reduction. Approval is not automatic.
Phone and internet
The federal Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) ended in 2024. Lifeline still provides a monthly discount for eligible households. Vermont’s utility office lists $9.25 for qualifying broadband or broadband bundles, or $5.25 for eligible voice-only service. Only one Lifeline discount per household is allowed, and a local participating provider is required. Apply via Lifeline Support or an approved provider. Beware of ads that claim the closed ACP program is accepting new applications.
Ask your internet company about its own low-cost plan as well. Vermont’s financial-help directory lists examples. Check the real monthly total, equipment fees, and service availability before changing plans.
Documents and information to gather
Programs ask for different records. Call even when something is missing and ask what other proof can be used.
| Information | Examples | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Identity | Photo ID, case number, birth records | Confirms the applicant and household |
| Income | Pay, benefits, child support, self-employment | Programs use gross household income |
| Utility account | Current bill, account number, shutoff notice | Connects help to the correct account |
| Heating details | Fuel type, dealer, tank level, landlord information | Shows how the home is heated |
| Housing | Lease, rent statement, heat-in-rent proof | Needed when the applicant does not pay a dealer directly |
| Medical need | Clinician contact and utility form | May support temporary medical protection |
| Submission proof | Screenshot, fax report, call log | Helps with follow-up or appeal |
Make copies of notices, screenshots, and uploaded forms. Keep your claim or case number, the date you called, and the worker’s name. If you lack an ID or pay stub, ask the office what proof it accepts before giving up.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Waiting for shutoff day. A utility, fuel dealer, or agency may need time to verify the account.
- Assuming Crisis Fuel is open in October. The regular winter program normally starts on the last Monday of November. Ask about local funds and confirm the new season’s hours.
- Ordering fuel or repairs first. Crisis help may not repay a completed delivery or repair.
- Assuming an application stops shutoff. Confirm any hold with the utility.
- Using an old income chart. Federal poverty figures change each year.
- Promising an impossible payment. Give the utility your real income schedule and request a workable plan.
- Paying an application fee. Public fuel and discount applications should not require a fee or banking password.
If help is denied, delayed, or unavailable
Ask for the reason and decision in writing. Check whether the problem is income, missing verification, household composition, account name, fuel type, season, or funding.
For a Fuel Assistance decision, act quickly. The original Vermont procedure described a Director’s review within five working days after an adverse decision and a fair-hearing window of about 90 days. Your own notice and the current DCF rules control: ask the office immediately which review or hearing to request, where to send it, and the exact deadline. Request written proof of receipt. Benefits may not continue while you appeal.
The official fair-hearing procedure explains the deadlines. VTLawHelp hearings explains what to expect.
For a utility dispute, call Consumer Affairs before the shutoff date if possible. For legal advice about benefits, a landlord-paid bill, unsafe housing, or disputed disconnection, see ASMOM’s Vermont legal guide. Save the notice, proof of income, your application or payment plan, and all calls and emails.
If heat or electricity is needed for a health condition or disability, ask your care team about the medical-certificate rule and check any reasonable accommodation options. The utility and state must still confirm which protections apply; medical paperwork is not a promise of permanent service.
Phone scripts
Calling the utility
“Hello, my account has a past-due balance or disconnect date of _____. Please tell me the minimum needed to stop disconnection, and offer the most reasonable repayment and budget-billing plan based on my income schedule.”
Calling DCF
“Hello, I want to apply for Seasonal Fuel Assistance for the next heating season. Can I apply through MyBenefits, what records are missing, and how will I know my application was received?”
Calling Community Action
“Hello, I live in _____ and heat with _____. Is Crisis Fuel open now? If it is closed, do you have another fuel, utility, town, or private fund I should contact?”
Calling Consumer Affairs
“Hello, I tried to make a payment plan with _____. I need help understanding the shutoff notice and whether the offered plan follows Vermont rules. What records should I submit?”
Resumen en español
Si necesita ayuda con calefacción, electricidad, gas o agua en Vermont, llame primero a la compañía y pida un plan de pago. Puede solicitar Seasonal Fuel Assistance por MyBenefits o llamar al 1-800-479-6151.
El programa Crisis Fuel suele abrir el último lunes de noviembre; el 21 de octubre de 2026 aún no empieza la temporada regular. Pregunte a Community Action y al 211 sobre ayudas locales. Si el corte de luz o gas es urgente, llame a la compañía antes de la fecha indicada.
Guarde facturas, avisos de corte, prueba de ingresos, datos del combustible y comprobantes de todo lo enviado. Si niegan Fuel Assistance, pida la decisión por escrito y revise rápidamente las fechas para una revisión o audiencia.
Para un descuento de electricidad, consulte Green Mountain Power, Burlington Electric o su servicio local. En Burlington puede haber una reducción del cargo fijo de agua. Guarde los documentos y revise los plazos de apelación indicados en la carta.
FAQs about Vermont utility help
Is Vermont Crisis Fuel open in October 2026?
No. As of October 21, the winter Crisis Fuel application window has not started. The usual opening is the last Monday in November, which falls on November 30 in 2026. Confirm with Community Action before visiting.
What is the Seasonal Fuel income limit?
The state lists 185% of federal poverty guidelines. For the 2026–2027 season, Vermont DCF shows monthly gross-income screens of $2,461 for one person and $5,088 for four people. Crisis Fuel uses 200%, with different amounts.
Can Vermont Fuel Assistance pay the full heating bill?
Usually not. Seasonal Fuel Assistance pays part of eligible heating costs. The amount depends on program rules, household facts, fuel type, prices, and available funds.
Can a utility shut off service during winter?
Sometimes, but there are limits. Covered utilities have winter, notice, medical, and repayment-plan rules. There is no blanket winter ban. Call Consumer Affairs at 1-800-622-4496 about your notice.
Does Vermont have water-bill assistance?
The former statewide LIHWAP program closed in 2024. Local payment plans and town aid may exist. Burlington offers water-bill payment help and a possible low-income fixed meter-fee reduction.
How long do I have to appeal Fuel Assistance?
The previous program procedure gave about 90 days for a fair-hearing request and five working days for a Director’s review. The actual notice and current rules control. Request review at once and keep proof of the request.
Can renters get Fuel Assistance if heat is in the rent?
Yes, some renters may qualify even if the landlord pays for heat. Rules and benefit amounts differ, including for subsidized housing. Explain your rent and heating arrangements to DCF.
What if I cannot afford a Green Mountain Power shutoff payment?
Call GMP before the first disconnection date on your notice, ask about a reasonable repayment plan, Energy Assistance, and the Power Partners option. Eligibility and funding limits apply.
What proof should I have when I call for heating help?
Have your address, heating type, fuel level, income records, family size, utility or dealer account, any shutoff notice, and medical needs. If a document is missing, ask what else can be accepted.
About this guide
This guide uses official federal, state, local, and other high-trust nonprofit and community sources mentioned in the article.
A Single Mother is independent and is not a government agency, benefits office, lender, law firm, medical provider, or tax advisor.
Program rules, funding, local availability, and eligibility can change. Always confirm details with the official program before you apply or make decisions.
Verification: Last verified October 31, 2026, next review January 29, 2027.
Corrections: If you see something wrong or outdated, email suggestions@asinglemother.org.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only. It is not legal, financial, medical, tax, immigration, disability, safety, or government-agency advice.
Last updated: October 31, 2026 Next review: January 29, 2027