Utility Assistance for Single Mothers in Colorado

Where to start

Quick guide to Colorado utility help

Colorado LEAP for winter heating costs

The Colorado LEAP program helps eligible households pay part of the cost of their main winter heat. It is not a grant for all utilities and does not promise to pay the whole bill. LEAP usually pays the heating vendor directly, then sends you a notice of the amount.

The 2026–27 LEAP season is November 1, 2026 through April 30, 2027. Do not send a regular application before the window opens. The 2026–27 county income table below matches Colorado’s newly posted state figures. The figures are gross monthly household income, before taxes, and a limit alone does not confirm eligibility.

Starting November 1, you may apply through Colorado PEAK, request a paper form by calling 1-866-HEAT-HELP, or ask your county human services office how to submit it. Confirm accepted mail, email, and in-person methods with your county. Colorado says LEAP does not require an interview. Save the filing receipt or confirmation number.

2026–27 LEAP income limits

These 2026–27 gross monthly limits are based on 60% of state median income. If your household is larger than eight, check the official state or county table for the exact figure. The income table is not a promise of approval.

You may qualify if you pay for the main heat, either to the fuel or utility provider or through rent, and you meet the other program rules. Heat included in rent may count when required proof is provided, including rules for subsidized housing. Ask the county about how to show this. LEAP also checks who is in the household and the documents the state requires. If citizenship or immigration questions affect your family, ask the program or qualified legal aid which household members can qualify; do not guess.

The state has described most complete, non-emergency LEAP applications as taking about 10–25 days and certain heat emergencies as taking about 10 days. These are estimates from earlier program guidance, not guarantees for 2026–27. Ask the LEAP office for the current processing estimate, and tell it right away if the main heat is off or unsafe.

If a LEAP application is marked incomplete

Colorado’s utility consumer protection law requires a notice when LEAP denies an application for missing or incomplete papers. The notice must give at least 60 days to correct them, with a June 15 limit stated in the law. Because the winter season starts in November, ask the state which date applies to your case rather than calculating it yourself. For customers of regulated investor-owned gas or electric utilities, the law also provides a disconnection hold of no more than 60 days while the state reviews the case; the hold may end sooner when the utility is told of a decision. This protection is not a general 60-day hold for every utility bill and does not apply in the same way to city utilities or electric co-ops. Call LEAP and your provider right away to check the actual deadline and account status.

Energy Outreach Colorado bill and heating help

Energy Outreach Colorado bill help can pay eligible past-due heating or electric bills or help when service is disconnected or fuel is low. You usually must pay your provider directly, meet income rules, and not already have aid for the same bill from another EOC partner in that program year. The EOC agency finder shows local intake paths; call before you travel.

The EOC program year is October 1–September 30; the current year began October 1, 2026. Funding varies by agency, fuel provider, and ZIP code. Bring a photo ID and a past-due bill. Ask about any online route: EOC now has special bill-assistance paths for certain utility customers.

A household generally cannot receive help for the same bill from more than one EOC partner during the same program year. If one partner cannot serve you, ask whether another agency can review the case or whether the bill is already marked as assisted.

Atmos Energy and Colorado Natural Gas customers: EOC currently directs qualifying customers to online applications for those bills. Use EOC’s Atmos bill help or Colorado Natural Gas help to see that route. For other bills, start with a partner agency. A submitted request does not stop a shutoff unless your utility confirms a hold.

Broken furnace or main heater

The heating repair program may repair or replace an inoperable primary heating system for a qualifying LEAP-approved household. It does not pay for portable heaters. Call 1-855-4-MY-HEAT (1-855-469-4328) for current instructions.

PIPP and utility affordability programs

The Percent of Income Payment Plan (PIPP) may lower electric or gas costs for households whose bills are too high for their income. It aims to limit qualifying costs to about 6% of yearly household income, based on the utility’s review. You must be a customer of a participating company and meet its referral rules. The 6% measure does not mean every customer gets the same discount or has old debt erased.

EOC lists several referral paths: approval through LEAP, EOC past-due bill help, state weatherization, or a direct PIPP referral for some households not currently behind on bills. The direct referral path has a household income test below 80% of area median income. The utility checks whether you meet its plan rules. The earlier PUC Utility Bill Help form was listed as permanently closed May 31, 2026; do not rely on it as a current application path.

Utility-specific programs can include payment arrangements, budget billing, affordability discounts, medical protections, and efficiency work. Start with the company named on the bill:

• Xcel energy assistance lists payment plans, affordability programs, medical help, and income-qualified efficiency services.
• Black Hills assistance lists payment arrangements, medical extensions, Black Hills Cares, and other resources.
• Atmos bill assistance explains installment plans, PIPP, and energy-assistance referrals.
• CNG payment assistance lists payment plans, medical protections, weatherization, and Energy Outreach help.

Do not assume enrollment begins as soon as you submit information. Keep checking the account and ask the utility to explain any amount due during the review.

Shutoff notices and medical protection

This is general information, not legal advice. Colorado Public Utilities Commission rules mainly apply to investor-owned gas and electric utilities. City-owned utilities and co-ops may have different rules. Read the notice from your own provider and ask for the exact way to protect service.

For many regulated electric customers, the electric disconnection rules generally require advance written notice, often at least 15 days for nonpayment. Notices also describe how to ask for a payment arrangement, dispute a bill, or seek medical protection. Some emergencies and service types have different rules.

For regulated electric accounts, a qualifying medical certificate may delay shutoff for up to 90 days when stopping service would cause or worsen a medical emergency for a customer or a permanent household member. Electric rules generally allow this protection once in 12 months. Regulated gas service has its own medical-certificate rule, typically a 60-day hold with a possible 30-day extension after a second certificate. Ask your utility for the right form, required timing, and any current rule changes. A medical hold does not cancel debt.

Do not confuse two different rights: A medical certificate and the special LEAP incomplete-paperwork shutoff hold have different conditions. If you have either issue, tell your utility which rule applies and ask whether the hold has been entered on your account.

If the utility will not explain the notice or follow an agreement, contact the Colorado utility regulator or file a complaint after first trying to resolve the issue with the company.

Weatherization and lower future bills

Colorado’s Weatherization Assistance Program provides free energy audits and approved energy-saving work for qualifying low-income households. Possible work may include air sealing, insulation, furnace safety work, lighting, and other measures chosen after the audit.

Homeowners and renters may apply. A renter may need the property owner’s written approval before work begins. The program does not guarantee every requested repair or appliance.

Energy Outreach Colorado also runs the CARE efficiency program in participating counties and utility areas. Ask whether the home fits CARE, state weatherization, or a utility program.

When housing conditions are unsafe or a landlord will not address serious problems, use ASMOM’s Colorado housing guide and Colorado legal guide for separate help paths.

Water bill help by city or provider

LEAP is mainly for home heating, so water debt usually needs a local program. Call the provider on the bill and ask about a payment plan, hardship fund, bill credit, leak adjustment, or partner agency.

Local rules matter: Aurora’s Water Cares rules and Greeley’s 2026 water-credit notice explain their own limits and proof. Those amounts do not apply to every Colorado water provider. Ask if sewer charges are included before you apply.

If your provider is not listed, call 211 and your city or district directly. Local programs can have short application windows or limited funds.

Documents and information to gather

Keep a folder with clear photos or copies of each record before applying. Save the dates you sent items and each confirmation number.

If another bill is using the money needed for utilities, check ASMOM’s Colorado SNAP guide, Colorado TANF guide, and Colorado child care guide.

Related help that may protect the utility budget

If utility costs are taking money from rent, food, or medical needs, other benefits may help the family budget. See ASMOM’s Colorado health guide and Colorado community guide. Ask 211 about low-cost phone or internet programs, too.