Last updated: July 16, 2026
Bottom line
Delaware has several utility-help paths, but no single program covers every bill. For heating and cooling costs, start with the Delaware Energy Assistance Program, the state’s Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Catholic Charities handles applications statewide.
If you have a shutoff notice, call the utility before waiting for an assistance decision. Ask for the exact disconnection date, the minimum payment needed, and a payment arrangement. Then contact LIHEAP, Delaware 211, and any relief fund that matches your utility.
The national LIHEAP guide explains the federal program. The Delaware help page covers other state benefits that may reduce the same household budget.
If service may be shut off
Act on the notice today. Assistance applications do not automatically stop disconnection, and an agency may not pay the entire balance.
- Call the utility. Ask what amount or agreement will stop shutoff and whether the account can be held while an assistance application is reviewed.
- Call Catholic Charities. Explain the bill type, shutoff date, household size, and whether service is already disconnected.
- Call Delaware 211. Dial 211, call 1-800-560-3372, or text your ZIP code to 898-211 for current local utility referrals.
- Save proof. Keep the notice, application confirmation, agency pledge, payment receipt, and names of everyone you speak with.
If losing electricity, gas, or water would affect someone’s health or recovery, ask the utility immediately about medical certification. Do not assume a doctor’s note has been received until the utility confirms it.
For food, rent, shelter, or other urgent needs, use ASMOM’s Delaware emergency guide.
Where to start
Choose the first step by bill type and deadline. You can apply through more than one program when each program allows it, but do not submit duplicate applications to the same fund.
Heating or cooling bill
Contact Catholic Charities for LIHEAP and ask which seasonal or crisis assistance is currently open.
Delmarva Power balance
Ask about a payment plan and check the Delmarva Power Customer Relief Fund while funding remains.
Other energy utility
Check the Delaware Energy Fund and ask whether your active residential account can receive a one-time credit.
Water or communication bill
Call the provider first, then use Delaware 211, Lifeline, and local hardship programs.
If the utility bill is part of a larger monthly shortfall, also check ASMOM’s Community Action guide, Delaware housing guide, and Delaware transportation guide.
Quick reference for Delaware utility help
| Need | Start here | What it may provide | Reality check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heating or cooling costs | LIHEAP through Catholic Charities | One-time seasonal or crisis energy help | Eligibility does not guarantee payment. |
| Delmarva Power balance | Customer Relief Fund | One-time account credit up to $300 | First-come funding and other rules apply. |
| Other energy utility | Delaware Energy Fund | One-time credit up to $300 | An energy-efficiency step is required. |
| High bills every month | Weatherization | No-cost approved efficiency work | There is a waiting list and no guarantee of service that year. |
| Water or sewer bill | Provider and Delaware 211 | Payment plan or local hardship referral | Help depends on provider and location. |
| Phone or internet | Federal Lifeline | Monthly service discount | Only one Lifeline benefit is allowed per household. |
Delaware LIHEAP and DEAP
Delaware uses federal LIHEAP funds through the Delaware Energy Assistance Program. The official state LIHEAP page describes help with heating, cooling, crisis needs, and related energy support.
Catholic Charities energy assistance is the statewide application path. Its current page says the heating program runs from October 1 through March 31 and that applications begin in July. Cooling and crisis availability can change, so ask which program is accepting applications when you call.
Benefits are normally paid to the utility or fuel company rather than directly to the household. Homeowners and renters may apply. If heat is included in subsidized rent, special benefit rules apply, so provide the lease and ask the worker to calculate the case.
Funding is limited
Meeting the income rules does not guarantee a benefit. A complete, signed application and all required proof are needed before eligibility can be decided.
Program Year 2026 income limits
The current LIHEAP chart uses annual household income at 60% of Delaware’s state median income. Use these figures as a screening guide and confirm them when applying.
| Household size | Annual income limit |
|---|---|
| 1 | $39,342 |
| 2 | $51,448 |
| 3 | $63,553 |
| 4 | $75,659 |
| 5 | $87,764 |
| 6 | $99,869 |
| 7 | $102,139 |
| 8 | $104,409 |
County contact numbers
- New Castle County: 302-654-9295
- Kent County: 302-674-1782
- Sussex County: 302-856-6310
The offices list public hours of Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Check before visiting because intake methods and appointment availability can change.
Delaware utility relief funds
Energize Delaware operates two current utility relief paths. Both remain available until funds run out, and a household cannot use both funds at the same time.
Delmarva Power Customer Relief Fund
The Delmarva relief fund is for active residential Delmarva Power electric or gas customers who meet limited- or moderate-income rules. Moderate-income households must have a balance of at least $250. Approved households may receive a one-time account credit of up to $300.
Applicants must complete an Energize Delaware Home Energy Checkup and Counseling visit. Rules for a disconnected and finalized account are stricter, so apply before service is lost when possible.
Delaware Energy Fund
The Delaware Energy Fund serves active income-eligible residential customers of other energy utilities. Household income must be below 350% of the federal poverty level. The fund offers a one-time credit of up to $300 on a first-come basis.
Applicants must take part in an approved Energize Delaware efficiency program before the credit is issued. Call 888-735-1510 with program questions. Call the utility, not the fund, for meter or billing disputes.
Shutoff notices, payment plans, and medical protection
The first call should be to the utility. Ask for the account balance, undisputed amount, shutoff date, reconnection terms, installment plan, budget billing, and third-party notice option.
For regulated electric and natural-gas service, Delaware’s seasonal shutoff rules apply during the cooling season from June 1 through September 30 and the heating season from November 15 through March 31.
- The utility generally must mail written notice at least 14 calendar days before seasonal termination for nonpayment.
- A good-faith dispute may pause termination while the dispute is decided if the utility is notified before disconnection and the customer pays current and undisputed amounts as required.
- An initial installment agreement must allow the undisputed arrears to be paid over no less time than the period in which those unpaid bills were incurred.
- Covered service cannot be disconnected on a heating-season day when the reported 8 a.m. temperature is 32°F or lower.
- Covered service cannot be disconnected on a cooling-season day when the forecast heat index may reach 105°F or higher.
These temperature rules delay a shutoff; they do not erase the balance. Make payment or assistance arrangements before the next eligible shutoff day.
Medical certification
If an occupant is so ill that termination would harm the person’s health or recovery, written certification from a licensed Delaware physician can prohibit disconnection under state law for covered service. Ask the utility for its form, submission method, and any follow-up requirements.
Billing disputes and complaints
Contact the utility first. If the issue remains unresolved, ask the Division of the Public Advocate for assistance. The PSC customer page explains that a formal complaint is normally the later step after the utility and Public Advocate contacts.
ASMOM’s Delaware legal guide may help when a utility issue is tied to a landlord, unsafe housing, discrimination, or another civil legal problem.
Weatherization for high monthly bills
The Delaware weatherization program helps eligible homeowners and renters reduce energy use. Approved work may include air sealing, weatherstripping, insulation, duct sealing, pipe insulation, broken-glass replacement, and a heating-system maintenance check.
Weatherization is not a general home-repair program. It covers approved work tied to energy conservation and related health or safety needs. A renter may need the property owner’s permission.
The current annual income limits begin at $30,120 for one person, $40,880 for two, $51,640 for three, and $62,400 for four. Call the Energy Coordinating Agency at 302-504-6111 to apply.
Eligible applicants are placed on a waiting list. Priority depends on need, household circumstances, and annual funding. Applicants who are not served within 12 months must reapply to verify income.
Water, phone, and internet help
Water and sewer bills
Delaware does not list one statewide water-payment program that covers every provider. Call the water or sewer company and ask about a payment plan, leak adjustment, hardship fund, second-party notice, and local agencies it works with.
The water consumer page recommends contacting the provider early and using Delaware 211 or a State Service Center for financial referrals. If you rent, check who is legally responsible for the account before paying a landlord’s utility balance.
Phone and internet
The federal Lifeline eligibility page lists income and program-based qualification. In 2026, income must generally be at or below 135% of the federal poverty guideline, or someone in the household must take part in a qualifying program such as SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, federal housing assistance, or the Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit.
Lifeline provides up to a $9.25 monthly discount on eligible phone, internet, or bundled service. Only one benefit is allowed per household. The Affordable Connectivity Program ended, so ignore websites that still promise an active ACP payment.
ASMOM’s phone and internet guide explains current low-cost communication options.
Documents to gather
Required proof depends on the program. Apply or call even if one item is missing, then ask what substitute document is accepted. ASMOM’s documents checklist can help you organize a larger benefits file.
| Document | Examples | Why it may matter |
|---|---|---|
| Identity and address | Photo ID, mail, lease | Shows the applicant and service location. |
| Household members | Social Security cards, birth records | Supports household-size and eligibility review. |
| Income | Three months of pay, benefits, support, unemployment | Most programs use household income. |
| Utility account | Full current bill and account number | Shows provider, balance, and service address. |
| Crisis proof | Shutoff notice or fuel statement | May support crisis priority. |
| Housing proof | Lease or ownership record | Shows who pays the energy cost. |
| Medical certification | Utility form completed by physician | May prevent covered service termination. |
| Application records | Confirmation, pledge, receipts, call notes | Helps with follow-up and disputes. |
If other costs are making the utility bill impossible, check ASMOM’s Delaware SNAP guide, Delaware TANF guide, and Delaware child care guide.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Waiting until disconnection. Some funds have stricter rules after an account is closed.
- Assuming an application stops shutoff. Confirm any hold directly with the utility.
- Sending only the first bill page. Agencies may need the account, service address, charges, and notice pages.
- Applying to both relief funds. Energize Delaware says customers may use only one of the two funds.
- Missing the efficiency step. The relief funds require participation before the credit is issued.
- Using old ACP claims. The federal ACP program is no longer active.
- Ignoring a recurring high bill. Ask about weatherization, budget billing, leaks, and an energy checkup.
If help is denied, delayed, or not enough
Ask for the decision or missing-item list in writing. Check whether the issue is income, an incomplete form, the wrong season, a closed fund, an ineligible account, or missing landlord or utility proof.
If LIHEAP is denied, ask Catholic Charities or DHSS what review or appeal right appears on the notice. Do not rely on a verbal explanation when a written decision is available.
If an application is pending near the shutoff date, call the utility again. Give the agency name, application date, confirmation number, and any pledge amount. Ask whether the utility can place a temporary hold or revise the payment arrangement.
Use Delaware 211 utility help to find another current source for any remaining balance. ASMOM’s benefits problem guide explains how to organize notices and follow-up records.
Phone scripts
Calling the utility
“I have a past-due residential account and want to prevent shutoff. What is the disconnection date, the minimum amount needed, and the longest payment plan available? Can the account be held while assistance is reviewed?”
Calling Catholic Charities
“I live in [county] and need help with [electric, gas, oil, propane, or cooling]. I have [a shutoff notice, no fuel, or a high balance]. Which LIHEAP program is open, and what documents are missing from my application?”
Calling Energize Delaware
“I am an active residential customer of [utility]. Which relief fund fits my account, what income and balance rules apply, and which energy-efficiency appointment must I complete before a credit can be approved?”
Calling about a dispute
“I contacted the utility on [date] about [billing, meter, shutoff, or payment-plan issue], but it is not resolved. What records should I send to the Public Advocate, and when would a formal PSC complaint be appropriate?”
Resumen en español
Para ayuda con calefacción o aire acondicionado en Delaware, comuníquese con Catholic Charities y pregunte por LIHEAP o DEAP. Si tiene aviso de desconexión, llame primero a la compañía y pregunte la fecha, el pago mínimo y el plan de pagos.
Marque 211, llame al 1-800-560-3372 o envíe su código postal al 898-211 para buscar ayuda local. Delmarva Power y otros clientes de energía también pueden revisar los fondos de Energize Delaware, disponibles hasta que se termine el dinero.
Si una condición médica puede empeorar sin electricidad, gas o agua, pida el formulario de certificación médica. Si niegan la ayuda, pida la razón por escrito y pregunte cómo solicitar una revisión.
FAQ
What is Delaware’s main energy-assistance program?
Delaware’s main program is LIHEAP, also called the Delaware Energy Assistance Program. Catholic Charities handles applications statewide for eligible heating, cooling, and crisis needs.
When does Delaware LIHEAP accept heating applications?
Catholic Charities says the heating season runs October 1 through March 31 and that it starts accepting applications in July. Confirm current intake before applying.
Can LIHEAP guarantee that my service stays on?
No. Eligibility does not guarantee payment, and an application does not automatically stop shutoff. Contact the utility and assistance agency before the notice deadline.
How much do Delaware relief funds provide?
The current Delmarva Power Customer Relief Fund and Delaware Energy Fund list one-time credits of up to $300, subject to eligibility and available funding.
Can a medical condition stop a shutoff?
For covered service, written certification from a licensed Delaware physician may prohibit termination when shutoff would harm an occupant’s health or recovery. Contact the utility immediately.
Does Delaware help with phone bills?
Eligible households may receive the federal Lifeline discount of up to $9.25 per month for phone, internet, or bundled service. One benefit is allowed per household.
Last updated: July 16, 2026 | Next review: October 16, 2026
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.