Last updated: May 20, 2026
Bottom line
If you are behind on a gas, electric, heating fuel, or water bill in Colorado, start with three steps: call your utility before the shutoff date, contact 2-1-1 Colorado for local referrals, and ask about the program that fits your bill. Winter heating help usually starts with LEAP. Emergency energy help may come through Energy Outreach Colorado or a local partner. Some city water bills have separate help.
As of May 20, 2026, Colorado’s regular 2025-2026 LEAP season has ended. LEAP normally accepts applications from November 1 through April 30. If you are outside that window, still call 1-866-HEAT-HELP and ask what emergency or repair options may be open.
This guide is written for single mothers, but most programs are household-based. A single father, grandparent caregiver, pregnant parent, or kin caregiver may use the same starting points if they pay the bill or live in the home.
If your utilities may be shut off soon
Do not wait for a final notice if your bill is already past due. Call the utility and ask for the collections or payment-assistance department. Ask for a payment plan, a hold while you apply for aid, and any medical or weather protection that may apply.
Colorado utility rules include limits on when a regulated utility may disconnect service. The rule includes medical emergency postponement rules and weather-based postponements when the local forecast is very cold or very hot. You can read the state rule text at Rule 3407, but your fastest step is to call the utility and ask what it needs from you today.
If someone in your home has a health condition that would get worse without electricity, ask the utility how to submit a medical certificate. A medical certificate is not bill forgiveness. It may give you more time to set up a plan and seek aid.
Where to start
Use the need that is most urgent. A shutoff notice needs a different path than a high winter bill or a broken furnace.
Past-due energy bill
Call your utility, then contact Energy Outreach Colorado or a local partner. If you have Xcel, Black Hills, Atmos, or Colorado Natural Gas, also check the state Utility Bill Help referral form.
Winter heating bill
Use LEAP during the regular season. It can help pay part of home heating costs, but it is not meant to pay the full bill.
Broken furnace or main heat source
Call 1-866-HEAT-HELP and ask about heating system repair or replacement. Do this fast if the home is unsafe or too cold.
Water bill
Call the city or water provider on the bill. Many water programs are local and do not go through LEAP.
Keep your other support pages handy too. For help beyond utilities, use Colorado emergency help, Colorado housing help, and the broader Colorado grants guide.
Quick help table
| Problem | Start here | What to ask | Reality check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heating bill during winter | Colorado LEAP | Ask if the season is open and what documents are missing. | LEAP pays a portion of heating costs and usually pays the vendor. |
| Past-due gas or electric bill | EOC bill help | Ask which local agency handles your ZIP code and utility. | Funding can run low, and agencies may use appointments. |
| Xcel, Black Hills, Atmos, or CNG bill | Utility Bill Help | Ask if you can be referred for an affordability program. | The state form is a referral. The utility makes the final decision. |
| Broken main heat source | EOC emergency help | Ask about repair or replacement of the main heating system. | Portable heaters are not the same as heating-system repair. |
| High bills every month | Weatherization program | Ask if your home can get energy-saving upgrades. | Work may take time and renters may need landlord approval. |
| Local water bill | Your city or water provider | Ask for a hardship fund, payment plan, or leak adjustment. | Water aid is usually local and rules vary by city. |
Colorado LEAP for winter heating bills
LEAP is Colorado’s Low-income Energy Assistance Program. It helps eligible households pay part of winter home heating costs. It may also connect some households to repair or replacement help for an inoperable main heating system.
LEAP normally runs from November 1 through April 30. You can apply online through Colorado PEAK during the season, request a paper form by phone, or work with the county process listed by the state. If you have a heating emergency, call 1-866-HEAT-HELP.
LEAP is not a promise that your whole bill will be paid. The state says the benefit amount depends on factors such as income, primary heating fuel costs, funding, and applications received. Payments are usually sent to the primary heating fuel vendor.
Latest posted LEAP income guide
The table below uses Colorado’s posted 2025-2026 LEAP gross monthly income guide. Because the 2025-2026 season has closed, treat it as a planning guide only until Colorado posts the next season’s numbers.
| Household size | Maximum gross monthly income posted for 2025-2026 |
|---|---|
| 1 | $3,607 |
| 2 | $4,717 |
| 3 | $5,827 |
| 4 | $6,938 |
| 5 | $8,048 |
| 6 | $9,158 |
| 7 | $9,366 |
| 8 | $9,574 |
| Each additional person | Add $208 |
Tip
If heat is included in your rent, do not assume you cannot apply. Ask LEAP what proof is needed, such as a lease or rent receipt. Rules can vary by housing situation.
Emergency energy help after LEAP or between seasons
Energy Outreach Colorado helps connect qualifying Colorado households with energy bill payment help and heating-system help. It uses local partner agencies, so the right contact may depend on your county, ZIP code, utility, and funding status.
Start with the EOC agency finder or call 1-866-HEAT-HELP. Tell them whether the bill is gas, electric, propane, or another heating fuel. Tell them if you are disconnected, have a shutoff notice, are low on delivered fuel, or have a broken main heat source.
If you receive other support, use it together with utility help. For food and basic needs, check Colorado SNAP help and Colorado WIC. This can free up cash for a payment plan, but it does not replace calling the utility.
Bill discounts and affordability programs
Some regulated Colorado utilities have affordability or income-qualified programs. The state Utility Bill Help application is a referral form. It asks whether you are a customer of Xcel Energy, Atmos Energy, Black Hills Energy, or Colorado Natural Gas and collects bill, income, and household information. If you meet the referral requirements, your information can be sent to the utility, and the utility decides final enrollment.
If you are an Xcel customer, review Xcel income programs and ask about payment arrangements, energy-saving programs, and medical-related options if needed. Black Hills customers can review Black Hills BHEAP. Colorado Natural Gas customers can check CNG assistance and ask how its affordability program works.
Do not assume the discount starts right away. Keep paying what you can while you wait, and ask the utility to note your account that you applied for help.
Shutoff protections to ask about
This section is general information, not legal advice. Utility rules can depend on the company, the type of service, the notice, and whether the utility is regulated by the Colorado Public Utilities Commission.
When you call, ask these questions in plain words:
- “Is my account scheduled for disconnection? What date and time?”
- “Can I stop disconnection today by paying part of the balance and starting a payment plan?”
- “Do weather protections apply based on the forecast?”
- “How do I submit a medical certificate if someone in my home has a medical emergency?”
- “Can you email or text me the agreement before I hang up?”
If you believe the bill is wrong, say that clearly and ask how to dispute it. Keep the person’s name, date, time, and any confirmation number.
Weatherization, repairs, and lowering future bills
If your bill is high every month, bill payment help may not be enough. Colorado’s Weatherization Assistance Program can help eligible households with energy-saving work such as an energy audit, insulation, air sealing, furnace safety testing, and other approved improvements. Services depend on the home and program rules.
Renters may apply, but the program may need landlord approval before work can be done. If your landlord refuses repairs and the home is unsafe, also seek housing help. The Colorado community support page can help you look for local agencies, and Colorado safety help may be important if utility control is part of abuse or coercion.
Water bill help in Colorado
Water help is often city-based. LEAP is mainly for heating costs, so a water bill usually needs a different call. Look at the name of the water provider on your bill and ask for “customer assistance,” “hardship,” “payment plan,” “leak adjustment,” or “medical hardship” options.
| Area or provider | Starting point | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Denver | Denver utility help | Denver lists rent and utility resources, including referrals and partner programs. |
| Aurora Water | Aurora Water Cares | The city says this program can help past-due water customers, with limits and direct payment to the utility. |
| Colorado Springs Utilities | CSU customer help | CSU lists temporary payment relief and Project COPE as customer assistance options. |
| Colorado Springs crisis aid | Project COPE | Project COPE provides utility payment assistance for families and individuals facing a personal crisis or emergency. |
| Fort Collins | Fort Collins assistance | The city lists bill payment, conservation, and efficiency help through local partners. |
| Greeley | Greeley LIFT UP | Greeley says its program includes relief with utility billing for low-income households. |
If your city is not listed, call 2-1-1 and your city utility. Ask if a local church, Community Action agency, or nonprofit has water funds this month.
Documents to gather before you apply
Missing paperwork is one of the biggest reasons applications slow down. Gather what you can before you call. If you do not have one item, ask the agency what substitute it accepts.
| Document or information | Why it matters | Practical note |
|---|---|---|
| Most recent utility bill | Shows account number, provider, service address, and balance. | Send every page if the agency asks for it. |
| Shutoff notice | Shows the deadline and urgency. | Take a clear photo if you cannot scan it. |
| Proof of income | Most programs check household income. | Use recent pay stubs, benefit letters, or self-employment records. |
| Photo ID | Confirms the applicant and address. | Ask about options if your ID address is old. |
| Lease or rent receipt | Helps if heat is included in rent. | Highlight the heat or utility section if there is one. |
| Household details | Programs may ask who lives with you. | Have names, birth dates, and school or child care schedules ready. |
If other bills are taking your utility money, check Colorado child care, Colorado TANF, and Colorado health care for help that may lower monthly pressure.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Waiting until the shutoff day. Some help requires a referral, an appointment, or proof review.
- Stopping payments completely. Even small payments may help when you ask for a plan, but do not promise money you cannot pay.
- Applying only to LEAP for a water bill. Water aid is usually local, so call the water provider too.
- Not asking about medical rules. If a medical condition is involved, ask what the utility requires from the doctor or clinic.
- Sending blurry documents. Clear photos with all corners visible can prevent delays.
If you are denied, delayed, or overwhelmed
Ask for the reason in writing. A denial may mean the program is closed, funding ran out, income was over the limit, a document was missing, or the bill did not match the program. Ask whether you can fix the problem by sending a missing item or applying to a different fund.
If you cannot get a clear answer, call 2-1-1 again and say: “I applied, but I need another option while I wait.” If housing is also at risk, use bill help guide and ask about rent, food, and transportation help too.
Some older adults, surviving spouses, and people with disabilities may also qualify for Colorado’s PTC Rebate, which can help with property tax, rent, and heat costs. This is not a quick shutoff fix, but it may help a qualifying household plan for the year.
Backup options while you wait
- Ask the utility for budget billing, a payment arrangement, or a due-date change.
- Ask your county human services office if emergency aid is available.
- Call local churches or Community Action agencies, but confirm they handle your ZIP code and utility.
- Ask your child’s school social worker or family liaison for local referrals.
- If you are unsafe at home, call a domestic violence program from a safe phone or device.
Phone scripts
Calling your utility about a shutoff notice
“Hi, my name is [name]. I have a shutoff notice for account [number]. I am applying for utility assistance. Can you tell me the exact shutoff date, the lowest payment that would stop disconnection, and whether I can set up a payment plan today?”
Calling 2-1-1
“I am a single parent in [city or county]. I need help with a past-due [gas/electric/water] bill. My shutoff date is [date]. Can you give me agencies that have utility funds this week and tell me what documents to bring?”
Calling about LEAP
“I want to know if LEAP is open and whether I can apply for heating help. My heat is [gas/electric/propane/wood/heat included in rent]. What documents do I need, and what should I do if I have a heating emergency?”
Calling a city water provider
“I am behind on my water bill and want to avoid disconnection. Do you have a hardship fund, payment plan, leak adjustment, or local agency that helps customers in my ZIP code?”
Resumen en español
Si necesita ayuda con gas, electricidad, calefacción o agua en Colorado, llame primero a la compañÃa de servicios. Pregunte por un plan de pago, protección médica si alguien tiene una condición de salud, y ayuda para evitar el corte.
LEAP ayuda con una parte de los gastos de calefacción en invierno. Normalmente acepta solicitudes de noviembre a abril. Fuera de esa temporada, llame al 1-866-HEAT-HELP y pregunte por otras opciones. Para ayuda local, llame al 2-1-1 y diga su ciudad, condado, tipo de factura y fecha de corte.
FAQs about Colorado utility assistance
Can LEAP pay my whole utility bill?
Usually no. Colorado says LEAP helps pay a portion of winter home heating costs. The amount depends on income, heating fuel costs, funding, and other factors.
Can I get help after April 30?
Regular LEAP applications normally close April 30. Other help may still be available through Energy Outreach Colorado, local agencies, city water programs, or your utility. Call 1-866-HEAT-HELP or 2-1-1 to ask what is open.
What if heat is included in my rent?
You may still have options. Ask LEAP what proof is needed, such as a lease or rent receipt. The answer can depend on your housing type and program rules.
Does a medical certificate erase the bill?
No. A medical certificate may postpone disconnection for a limited time when the rules are met. You still need to work on payment arrangements and assistance.
Where do I get help with a water bill?
Start with the water provider listed on your bill. Ask about a hardship fund, payment plan, leak adjustment, or local nonprofit partner. 2-1-1 can help you search by ZIP code.
Can utility help affect my SNAP, Medicaid, or child care help?
Utility assistance rules vary by program. LEAP says participation in several other benefit programs does not stop you from applying. Ask each program if a payment must be reported.
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 May 20, 2026, next review August 20, 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.