Last updated: July 16, 2026
Bottom line
North Dakota’s main utility program is the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, called LIHEAP. It can pay part of approved home-heating costs and may connect eligible households with emergency energy help, furnace services, weatherization, and cooling-device assistance.
LIHEAP applications are now accepted all year. A household that is approved follows an annual review cycle instead of filing a new application every fall. Approval is not automatic, and the program may pay only part of the bill.
Start with the official North Dakota LIHEAP page, then call your utility if you have a past-due balance or shutoff notice. The ASMOM national LIHEAP guide explains the federal program, while the North Dakota help guide covers other family benefits.
If shutoff is close or fuel is gone
Call the utility before the date on the notice. Ask for the credit or collections department, a written payment arrangement, and the exact amount needed to stop disconnection. Tell the company that you are applying for LIHEAP, but do not assume an application will automatically stop the shutoff.
Call the North Dakota HHS Customer Support Center at 1-866-614-6005 or 701-328-1000, with 711 for TTY. The state tells households with a shutoff notice, no deliverable fuel, or a minor repair emergency to contact the center rather than relying only on an online application.
Dial 211 or text your ZIP code to 898-211 through FirstLink 211 for local utility, fuel, food, shelter, and emergency referrals. A referral does not guarantee that a local fund has money available.
If utility loss is connected to eviction, unsafe housing, or another crisis, use the ASMOM North Dakota emergency guide and North Dakota housing help while the energy case is reviewed.
Where to start
Apply for LIHEAP
Use the state portal, a paper application, or a Human Service Zone office. Submit the application even if you still need to collect some proof.
Call the utility
Ask for a payment arrangement, budget billing, a third-party notice, and any company assistance tied to LIHEAP.
Ask Community Action
Energy Share, weatherization, furnace help, cooling devices, and local emergency funds are often handled through regional Community Action agencies.
Report special risks
Tell the utility during the notice period if a dangerous health condition exists or if the customer is age 65 or older or has a disability.
Quick reference
| Problem | First contact | What to ask | Reality check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heating bill or fuel | North Dakota LIHEAP | Can regular assistance cover this heat source? | LIHEAP normally pays only part of approved costs. |
| Shutoff or empty tank | HHS Customer Support | Can this receive emergency review? | Emergency rules are more restrictive. |
| Electric is not primary heat | Community Action | Does Energy Share fit this bill? | A LIHEAP approval notice is normally needed. |
| Unsafe furnace | HHS and Community Action | Is cleaning, repair, or replacement available? | An inspection and prior approval may be required. |
| High bills each month | Weatherization provider | Can my home receive an energy audit? | There may be a waiting list. |
| Water, phone, or internet | Provider and 211 | Which payment plan or discount applies? | LIHEAP does not pay every household bill. |
What North Dakota LIHEAP covers
LIHEAP can partially pay for natural gas, electricity, propane, fuel oil, coal, wood, kerosene, and other approved home-heating sources. Renters and homeowners can apply. A renter whose heat is included in rent should still ask whether the household fits the rules and what lease proof is needed.
North Dakota also lists weatherization, furnace cleaning, furnace repair or replacement, chimney cleaning and inspection, emergency assistance, and help with cooling devices or repairs. Each service has separate rules, and some help is handled by Community Action after LIHEAP approves the household.
The program changed to year-round applications and eligibility. An approved household receives an annual review packet based on its approval date. The packet is sent before the review is due. Returning it late can cause a gap or case closure.
Households must report certain changes within 10 days. These include moving, changing the type of heat, adding or losing a household member, and starting or ending a rent subsidy or low-income housing assistance.
Tribal households may apply elsewhere
Individual tribal LIHEAP programs serve many tribal members who live on reservations. Use the official tribal services directory to ask which program should handle the household.
Current LIHEAP income limits
For October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026, household income must be at or below 60% of North Dakota’s median income and within the limits below. Apply even if income changes from month to month. The agency reviews prior-month, current-month, and expected next-month income along with allowed expenses.
| Household size | Annual limit | Monthly limit |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $40,530 | $3,378 |
| 2 | $53,010 | $4,418 |
| 3 | $65,478 | $5,457 |
| 4 | $77,958 | $6,497 |
| 5 | $90,426 | $7,536 |
| 6 | $102,894 | $8,575 |
| 7 | $105,234 | $8,770 |
| 8 | $107,574 | $8,965 |
North Dakota allows some deductions that can lower countable income, including certain child care, child support, alimony, and medical expenses. Earned income also receives a listed deduction. Do not decide that you are over the limit without applying or asking the agency to review the household.
How to apply for LIHEAP
- Apply online. Use the Self-Service Portal to start an application, upload proof, complete a review, and manage the case.
- Apply on paper. Print an application or request one by mail from HHS.
- Use a local office. The Human Service Zone directory lists county offices, hours, and contact information.
- Get application help. Community Options assistance can help collect proof, complete the form, and submit it. Call 1-800-823-2417.
- Respond to requests. HHS says verifications should be returned within 30 days after the application is received.
The state normally sends a Notice of Eligibility within 45 days. The notice says whether the household is approved or denied and explains the next steps. Save screenshots, fax confirmations, mailed copies, and every notice.
The ASMOM documents checklist can help you build one folder for benefit applications and utility calls.
Emergency energy help and Energy Share
Contact HHS Customer Support when you have a heating emergency, including a shutoff or disconnection notice, no deliverable fuel, or a minor repair problem. Emergency assistance is a last-resort service and can use tighter eligibility rules than regular LIHEAP.
If electricity is not the household’s main heat source, take the LIHEAP approval notice to a regional Community Action agency and ask about Energy Share. The Energy Share program helps with emergency household energy costs that other programs do not cover.
Energy Share does not duplicate LIHEAP or other available help. The local agency may first ask the household to use the utility’s payment plan and other resources. Use the Community Action locations page to find the correct region.
Local funding can run out. If Energy Share cannot help, ask FirstLink about churches, township or county help, fuel banks, and other programs in the ZIP code. The ASMOM North Dakota community guide provides more local starting points.
North Dakota shutoff rights
The North Dakota Public Service Commission regulates investor-owned electric and natural-gas utilities. Its rules do not cover municipal utilities or rural electric cooperatives in the same way. Those providers may have separate customer-protection policies.
The official PSC disconnection guide says a regulated utility must normally give written notice at least 10 days before disconnection. Personal delivery is required for customers who have a disability or are age 65 or older.
A regulated utility cannot disconnect on a Friday, weekend, state holiday, the day before a state holiday, or after noon. The rules also require an opportunity to pay the delinquent amount or work out a monthly payment plan.
A customer can request up to a 30-day postponement by telling the utility during the 10-day notice period that a dangerous health condition exists, or that the customer is age 65 or older or has a disability. The customer can also register before a problem develops and choose a trusted person to receive a Third Party Notice.
Winter does not stop every shutoff
North Dakota’s regulated-utility rules do not ban winter disconnections when the other notice and protection rules are followed. Call as soon as a notice arrives.
The PSC utility page explains which investor-owned companies it regulates. Call the PSC at 701-328-2400 after trying to resolve the issue with a regulated utility.
If the dispute involves a landlord, unsafe housing, discrimination, or court papers, use the ASMOM North Dakota legal guide for trusted legal-help options.
Weatherization and furnace help
Weatherization reduces energy waste and can make a home safer. It is not a cash payment and is not meant for general remodeling. Work is selected after an energy audit and may include insulation, air sealing, weather stripping, door or window measures, and certain furnace work.
The current weatherization eligibility page says household income cannot exceed 200% of the federal poverty level. LIHEAP clients are automatically income eligible, but the home must still pass program review.
Homeowners and renters can ask, although rental work can require the owner’s permission. Homes weatherized with federal funds during the last 15 years are normally not eligible for another full weatherization project.
Use the state’s weatherization application or contact the regional Community Action agency. Waiting lists, home conditions, contractor capacity, and available funds affect timing.
Cooling-device assistance
North Dakota currently lists help with purchasing or repairing air conditioners and other cooling devices for eligible LIHEAP households. This is not a general summer electric-bill payment or a guaranteed air conditioner.
If you already receive LIHEAP, contact the local Community Action agency and provide the approval letter. If you do not have an open case, apply for LIHEAP first. Community Action reviews the cooling need and available program options.
If heat is dangerous for a baby, pregnant person, older adult, or someone with a health condition, also call the health care provider. The ASMOM North Dakota health guide covers insurance and care-access starting points.
Water, phone, and internet bills
LIHEAP is an energy program and does not provide steady statewide water-bill assistance. The temporary federal Low Income Household Water Assistance Program was funded through March 2024. The federal water report explains that limited program period.
For a current water or sewer balance, call the city, rural water district, or company shown on the bill. Ask for a payment arrangement, leak adjustment, due-date change, fee review, or local hardship referral. Then ask 211 and Community Action what is funded in the area.
Lifeline can reduce the cost of qualifying phone, internet, or bundled service. The Lifeline qualification page lists the current income and benefit-program paths. The standard discount can be up to $9.25 for broadband or bundled service, while eligible households on qualifying Tribal lands may receive enhanced support.
Only one Lifeline discount is allowed per household. The FCC consumer guide explains the benefit and participating-service rules. The ASMOM phone and internet guide provides plain application steps.
Ask your utility company for help
Public assistance and utility-company arrangements can work together. Ask the company to explain every current option before agreeing to a payment amount you cannot keep.
| Company | Official starting point | What to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Montana-Dakota Utilities | MDU assistance page | LIHEAP, Energy Share, payment plans, and budget billing |
| Xcel Energy | Xcel state resources | Payment arrangements and North Dakota energy programs |
| Otter Tail Power | Otter Tail payment help | Payment options and referrals available to the account |
| Other provider | Customer-service number on bill | Payment plan, medical form, third-party notice, and local aid |
Do not assume a discount shown for another state applies in North Dakota. Ask the company to confirm the exact North Dakota tariff or program before relying on it.
Documents to gather
Apply or call even if every document is not ready. Ask which alternative proof is accepted and keep copies of everything sent.
| Document | Why it matters | Practical tip |
|---|---|---|
| Heating bill | Shows provider, heat source, and account | Save all pages, not only the amount due. |
| Shutoff notice | Shows the deadline and emergency | Send it the same day. |
| Income proof | Used for the LIHEAP budget | Gather prior, current, and expected income. |
| Expense proof | Some costs can reduce countable income | Include medical, child care, and support records. |
| Lease | Shows rent and whether heat is included | Ask the landlord for a copy if needed. |
| Medical information | May support shutoff postponement | Ask the utility which form is required. |
| LIHEAP approval | May open Energy Share or cooling help | Keep a digital and paper copy. |
Common mistakes to avoid
- Waiting for winter. LIHEAP applications are accepted year-round.
- Assuming an application stops shutoff. Keep working with the utility while HHS reviews the case.
- Missing the annual review. Benefits can end when the review is not returned on time.
- Ignoring a change. Report listed household, address, heat-source, and subsidy changes within 10 days.
- Assuming winter bans disconnection. North Dakota does not have a full winter shutoff ban for regulated utilities.
- Using another state’s utility program. Confirm that every company offer applies to North Dakota customers.
If LIHEAP is denied or delayed
Read the written notice. Ask whether the problem is missing proof, countable income, household members, housing assistance, the fuel account, an unsigned application, or another program rule.
| Problem | First step | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| No decision | Ask when HHS received the application. | Appeal if no written action arrives within 45 days. |
| Missing proof | Ask for the exact missing item. | Submit it and keep delivery proof. |
| Denied | Ask for the policy and budget used. | Request a fair hearing by the notice deadline. |
| Benefit seems wrong | Ask how income, expenses, and heat were counted. | Send corrections and consider an appeal. |
| Utility will not cooperate | Ask for a supervisor or written response. | Contact the PSC if it regulates the company. |
The official HHS appeals page provides the hearing form and Appeals Supervisor contact information. LIHEAP applicants may appeal a heating or emergency decision or the failure to send written action within 45 days.
Use the ASMOM benefits problem guide to track deadlines, notices, and calls before giving up.
Phone scripts
Calling HHS
“I need to apply for LIHEAP and have an energy emergency. My shutoff date is [date], or I have [amount] of fuel left. What documents do you need today, and how should I send them?”
Calling the utility
“My account number is [number], and I received a shutoff notice dated [date]. I am applying for LIHEAP. Please explain the payment arrangement, special protections, and amount needed to prevent disconnection.”
Calling Community Action
“I have a LIHEAP approval notice and need help with [electricity, furnace, cooling device, or weatherization]. Does Energy Share or another program fit, and what documents should I bring?”
Calling the PSC
“I tried to resolve a disconnection issue with my utility. Can you confirm whether the company is PSC-regulated and whether the notice, payment-plan, or 30-day postponement rules apply?”
Resumen en español
North Dakota acepta solicitudes de LIHEAP durante todo el año. El programa puede pagar una parte de la calefacción y puede conectar a familias elegibles con ayuda de emergencia, reparación del sistema de calefacción, climatización y algunos aparatos de enfriamiento.
Si tiene una notificación de corte o no tiene combustible, llame a la compañía y al centro de HHS al 1-866-614-6005 el mismo día. El invierno no impide todos los cortes. Algunas personas con una condición médica peligrosa, discapacidad o edad de 65 años o más pueden pedir hasta 30 días de aplazamiento durante el período de aviso.
Guarde la factura, el aviso de corte, comprobantes de ingresos y gastos, el contrato de renta y la carta de aprobación. Si la solicitud es negada o no recibe una decisión escrita dentro de 45 días, pregunte cómo solicitar una audiencia.
FAQs
Is North Dakota LIHEAP open year-round?
Yes. Applications are accepted all year. Approved households follow an annual review cycle and must return the review packet on time.
What are the current LIHEAP income limits?
For October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026, the monthly limit is $3,378 for one person, $5,457 for three, and $6,497 for four.
Can LIHEAP help with propane or wood?
Yes. North Dakota lists propane, fuel oil, coal, wood, natural gas, electricity, and other approved home-heating sources.
Does winter prevent a utility shutoff?
No. Regulated utilities may disconnect during winter after following the notice and protection rules. Call before the date on the notice.
Can LIHEAP help with an air conditioner?
Eligible households may receive help buying or repairing a cooling device. An open LIHEAP case and approval letter are normally needed.
Can I appeal a LIHEAP decision?
Yes. You may request a fair hearing after a decision you disagree with or when no written action is sent within 45 days.
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 July 16, 2026, next review October 16, 2026.
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.