Utility Assistance for Single Mothers in Nevada

Where to start

Quick help table

Nevada Energy Assistance Program

EAP helps eligible Nevada households with home heating and electric costs. The program uses federal LIHEAP funds and money from Nevada’s Universal Energy Charge. The state accepts applications year-round until available funding is exhausted.

An approved household normally receives one annual fixed credit paid directly to one or more energy providers. The updated

August 2026 EAP form

states that the minimum yearly benefit for an eligible household is

$360

. That is not a payment each month. Your credit depends on household income, energy use, provider charges, and program rules; it may be greater or less than what you currently owe.

You may qualify if you live in Nevada, meet the state’s citizenship or eligible immigration-status rules, meet the income limit, and pay at least part of the heating or cooling cost. You may pay a utility, fuel supplier, or landlord. A bill in someone else’s name does not always rule you out, but the state can require that person’s signed permission. Ask EAP about your household’s exact case before deciding not to apply.

Nevada EAP income limits for 2026

The limits below apply to the FY2027 EAP program year, from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027. The state uses total gross monthly household income before deductions. Check the current

EAP eligibility chart

before filing because limits can change each July.

A household can include people who are not related but live together and share the main electric or heating source. Report everyone the form asks about. The state asks for income proof for

all people in the household

; a change in income should be explained and backed up with recent records. Do not use the older FY2026 income chart.

Fast-Track, medical-expense, and arrearage help

Nevada has special EAP parts for some crisis cases. These are not separate grants that everyone receives. Each has extra rules, and available funding matters.

Review the state special EAP programs and ask the EAP office to name the part being considered. A shutoff notice alone does not guarantee special processing or payment.

Fast-Track detail:

Nevada’s current

special-program rules

describe an unexpected loss or cut in income of at least 15% within the past two to five months. A shutoff threat without the other qualifying facts may not be enough. Ask EAP to check the

FY2027 EAP manual

for your case, especially if your child’s health or your household’s energy service is at risk.

How to apply for Nevada EAP

Start at Nevada’s

official EAP application instructions

. The state describes online and paper options, but the paper form gives the clearest mailing, fax, drop-off and email paths. Ask the office if EAP appears in

Access Nevada

before relying on that portal to file. Spanish and accessible print forms are also on the official EAP page. EAP offices, Social Services offices and local intake sites can help you complete the form.

1. Start the application as soon as you need help.
2. Write the EAP case or application number on every page you send.
3. Include the full utility bill, not only the balance screen.
4. Send proof for every household member requested by the form.
5. Keep screenshots, email receipts, fax confirmations, and copies.
6. Continue paying the provider when possible until the credit appears.

The application lists EAP phone numbers of

775-684-0730

for Reno or Carson City,

702-486-1404

for Las Vegas, and

800-992-0900

toll-free. Ask which office has your application and how to submit urgent documents.

Submit the signed application and proof:

the state accepts mail, fax, DSS lobby or drop-box delivery, and email to

energyassistance@dss.nv.gov

. The updated state form lists fax

775-684-0740

for Carson City and

702-486-1441

for Las Vegas. Use the state form to confirm addresses before sending sensitive records. Do not email documents to a person who contacts you without checking the address against the official site.

If you received EAP before:

Nevada says you generally cannot reapply until about 11 months after the last benefit. A mailed notice tells recipients when it is time to apply again. If it does not arrive, ask the EAP office for your next date.

The FY2027 state manual sets a goal of processing regular applications in

30 calendar days

; high-volume cases may take up to

60 days

. This is not a shutoff hold. Contact the utility while waiting.

Documents to gather

A complete file can prevent avoidable delays. Keep copies of your income proof, ID, signed application, bill, notices, and any upload, fax or email confirmation. Ask the EAP office what substitute proof it accepts if a document is missing.

The state’s current EAP form also asks for the names, dates of birth and Social Security numbers for all household members. For work through a temp agency or on-call employment, it may ask for

12 months

of earnings, not only the usual 30 days. A W-2 or 1099 alone does not replace current income proof. Send sensitive records only through an official submission channel.

Shutoff protections and payment plans

The Public Utilities Commission of Nevada (PUCN) rules discussed here apply only to utilities the commission regulates. The PUCN does not regulate many government-owned utilities, cooperatives, or general improvement districts. For those providers, ask for their own written shutoff policy.

The PUCN

shutoff rules

say regulated gas, electric, and water utilities generally give a 10-day written notice, then another notice at least 48 hours before disconnection. Utilities normally cannot disconnect the day before a weekend, during a weekend, or on a state holiday unless a safety problem exists.

If ending service would be especially dangerous to a permanent resident’s health, notify the utility before shutoff. A doctor or public health official must provide a written statement with the service address, patient name, health issue, and professional signature. The utility must postpone shutoff for 30 days and may postpone it for another 30 days after a renewed certificate. The customer still owes the bill and will be asked to enter a payment plan.

The PUCN

utility bill guide

says customers may avoid disconnection by agreeing to pay overdue amounts in monthly installments. Regulated electric and gas providers must also offer a 12-month equal-payment plan to reduce seasonal bill swings.

Contact the utility first about a billing or service dispute. If a supervisor cannot solve it, contact the

PUCN complaint office

. In Northern Nevada, call

775-684-6100

; in Southern Nevada, call

702-486-2600

. The PUCN can address only utilities it regulates. Ask your city or local provider for its own appeal policy if it is outside the PUCN’s authority.

Weatherization can lower future bills

Nevada’s Weatherization Assistance Program helps income-qualified renters and homeowners lower energy use and improve home safety. The current limit is generally 200% of the federal poverty level. Approved work may include air sealing, insulation, weather-stripping, solar screens, efficient lighting, and some heating, cooling, refrigerator, or water-heater repairs.

Weatherization does not pay a past-due bill. The local provider must approve the household and complete a home energy assessment before work begins. A landlord may need to approve work in a rental home.

Use the official

Nevada weatherization page

to confirm which provider serves your address.

Renters may need landlord approval. State weatherization work is generally free to approved renters and homeowners, but landlords of some qualifying rentals may owe part of the cost.

Local utility programs in Nevada

Local programs may have narrow service areas, age rules, utility rules, and limited funds. Call before applying.

• 
  Northern Nevada SAFE
  
  , run by United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierra, describes up to
  
  $500 per year
  
  for utility hardship. Ask how to reach a partner and if money is available.
• 
  Project REACH
  
  serves qualifying Southern Nevada adults age
  
  62 or older
  
  with past-due utility bills. United Way lists up to
  
  $300
  
  once in a rolling
  
  12-month
  
  period. It asks for Nevada ID, income proof and a past-due bill in the applicant’s name. A single mother under age 62 should not expect to qualify on her own, but an older household member may wish to ask about eligibility.
• 
  Southwest Gas Energy Share
  
  may help current natural-gas customers after a sudden hardship. Local nonprofits handle applications; qualifying for EAP is not required for Energy Share.
• 
  Henderson utility discounts
  
  include a waiver of the basic water and sewer charge for qualifying account holders enrolled in EAP, a disability discount, and a payment-date option for some customers paid once a month. The city says approved changes affect future bills, not earlier ones.
• 
  Clark County Social Service
  
  can explain county programs and referrals.
  
  Do not count on CHAP eviction funding
  
  : the county’s notice says those funds are exhausted. Ask the county or Nevada 211 what utility-specific assistance is actually accepting new requests.

A local Community Action agency may also help with forms, energy bills, weatherization, food, or referrals.

The

county CHAP notice

concerns its exhausted eviction fund; check with the county for separate utility services.

Water, sewer, and leak help

Nevada EAP mainly covers home heating and electric costs. Water and sewer assistance depends on the provider.

The

LVVWD assistance page

lists payment help, leak adjustments, repair reimbursement, and low-income leak-repair programs. Customers should call before the scheduled shutoff date because options may not be available after an account enters final disconnection processing.

When a bill rises because of a leak, take photos, repair the leak as soon as possible, keep the paid invoice, and ask about the application deadline. Leak adjustment rules may require a large increase in use, completed repairs, and a request within a set number of days.

If water is included in rent or a shutoff could affect your housing, use ASMOM’s

Nevada housing guide

. A tenant with a lease or landlord dispute may also need the

Nevada legal guide

.

LVVWD leak deadlines:

its posted program requires at least

50% more water use

than the comparison period, repairs within

60 days

of the bill date when the leak was found, and an online adjustment request within

90 days after repairs

. A credit is not certain. The district also describes repair reimbursement for some homeowners, but tenants should first ask who is responsible for repair under their lease. If you are an LVVWD customer, call

702-870-4194

before a shutoff date. Other water providers use different rules.

Phone and internet bill help

Federal Lifeline offers eligible households a monthly discount of up to

$9.25

for qualifying phone or broadband service; voice-only plans may receive

$5.25

. Some eligible households on Tribal lands may receive up to

$34.25

. Only one Lifeline benefit is allowed per household. You may qualify with income at or below

135% of the federal poverty guidelines

, or through SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, federal public housing assistance, or certain other programs. These are discounts, not cash payments. Check

official discount rules

for the service type.

Follow the official

Lifeline application steps

, then choose a company that serves your area. Ask the company about any other low-cost plan and whether it can be used with Lifeline.

If EAP is denied or delayed

You have a right to a written decision. The notice should say whether you qualify, the benefit amount when approved, where it will be paid, or why the application was denied.

If something is missing, send it quickly and keep proof. Ask EAP whether it can finish or reconsider your case. Do not wait to request a hearing if your deadline is near.

If you disagree with EAP’s decision, the current application gives you a right to ask for a conference and, in most cases, a fair hearing. A

written hearing request must generally be made within 90 days of the agency’s action or decision

. An exception applies where the only dispute is a legally required automatic benefit adjustment. Follow the notice’s instructions. You may also request a hearing if the agency did not act with reasonable promptness. This is general information, not legal advice; if you need help, see the Nevada legal-aid resources below.

Two 10-day rules to watch:

the current EAP application tells households to report changes in income, household size, utility company, or address within

10 calendar days

. It also says to answer requests for more proof within

10 calendar days

. Check the date on your own letter. If you cannot meet a deadline, contact EAP before it passes and keep a record of the call.

Related Nevada help to check

A lower bill in another part of the budget may help you keep utility service on. These programs use separate rules:

• 
  Nevada SNAP help
  
  may reduce grocery costs.
• 
  Nevada child care
  
  may help eligible working or training parents.
• 
  Nevada health coverage
  
  covers Medicaid and children’s coverage paths.
• If a job or appointment depends on transportation, ask Nevada 211 about local rides and transit help.
• 
  Nevada safety resources
  
  may help when another person controls the account or threatens shutoff. If you think your device may be monitored, ask a trained advocate about safer contact.

Phone scripts