Last updated: May 20, 2026
Bottom line
If you are behind on an electric, gas, water, or trash bill in Arizona, start with three steps: call your utility before shutoff, apply for state energy help, and contact your local Community Action Agency or 2-1-1 for emergency funds. Arizona has several paths, but most are not instant and many depend on funding.
The main state energy application is through Arizona LIHEAP. The same state page now also explains Power AZ, a state utility program for households that may be over the normal LIHEAP income line. You can apply online through the A-to-Z portal, or ask for help if online forms are hard to use.
Urgent help if shutoff is close
If you have a shutoff notice, no working air conditioning in extreme heat, a child with medical needs, or a prepaid account that is almost empty, do not wait for an online application to move by itself.
- Call your utility and ask for a payment plan, hardship hold, medical flag, or extension.
- Apply for LIHEAP or Power AZ and mark the shutoff or crisis details clearly.
- Use Community Action Agencies to find the local office that handles emergency utility help in your county.
- Call 2-1-1 or use Arizona 2-1-1 for local utility funds, cooling centers, and shelters.
- For heat relief in Maricopa County, check the Heat Relief Network. In Pima County, use Beat the Heat.
For danger from heat illness, a gas leak, fire, downed power line, or a medical emergency, call 911.
Where to start
Start with the bill that could cause the fastest harm. In Arizona, that is often electricity during hot months, gas during cold months, or water if a city account is close to shutoff. Write down the account number, due date, past-due amount, and the date on any shutoff notice.
If the bill is electric or gas
Apply for state energy help, then call the utility and ask for a hold while your application is reviewed.
If the bill is water
Check your city or water company first. The federal water program in Arizona is closed, but some local discounts still exist.
If your family may lose housing
Utility bills can connect to rent, deposits, or eviction risk. Also review Arizona housing help and local emergency aid.
Arizona utility help at a glance
| Need | Best first step | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Past-due electric or gas | Apply for LIHEAP or Power AZ | Benefits are limited and depend on eligibility, documents, and funding. |
| Shutoff notice | Call the utility and CAA | Ask for a payment plan, crisis review, and vendor pledge note. |
| Family emergency | Ask about STCS | Arizona Short-Term Crisis Services may help families with a dependent child. |
| High summer heat | Use cooling centers | Cooling centers can protect your family while bill help is pending. |
| High monthly bills | Ask about discounts | APS, SRP, TEP, UniSource, and Southwest Gas have income or hardship programs. |
| Old, hot, or drafty home | Apply for weatherization | Free energy-saving repairs may lower future bills. |
LIHEAP and Power AZ
The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program helps low-income households pay heating and cooling bills. Arizona DES says LIHEAP can provide a regular benefit and, when the regular benefit has been used, a crisis benefit for certain energy emergencies.
Power AZ is listed on the same state page. It is meant to expand utility help to more Arizona households. DES says one combined utility assistance application is screened for both LIHEAP and Power AZ, but a household cannot receive standard benefits from both during the same eligibility period.
Arizona DES lists current LIHEAP monthly gross income limits. Examples include $2,807 for a household of one, $3,671 for two, $4,535 for three, and $5,399 for four. Power AZ uses a higher state median income limit. Because these numbers can change, confirm them on the official page before you rely on them.
Arizona also uses a point system for regular LIHEAP benefits. Points can come from income, energy burden, and household needs such as a person age 60 or older, a disability, a child age 6 or younger, or a veteran in the home. Current DES information lists regular LIHEAP benefit levels from $160 to $640 and crisis help up to $500, but funding is first-come, first-served and not guaranteed.
Tip for single mothers
If you already receive DES Nutrition Assistance or Cash Assistance, DES says you may be categorically eligible for LIHEAP income purposes. You may still need to provide other documents, such as the current utility bill and shutoff notice.
Utility company programs to ask about
Do not rely only on state aid. Your utility may have its own discount, crisis fund, payment extension, medical notice program, or partner agency. Utility rules vary, and Arizona shutoff protections can depend on the utility, regulator, weather, medical needs, and date. Check the disconnection rules and ask your utility what applies to your account today.
| Utility | Programs to ask about | Reality check |
|---|---|---|
| APS | APS bill help, Energy Support, Crisis Bill Assistance, APS CARE, medical support | Some help is income-based; crisis funds may require proof of hardship. |
| SRP | SRP discount, payment plans, Project SHARE referrals | SRP is not regulated the same way as investor-owned utilities, so call SRP directly. |
| TEP | TEP Lifeline, short-term assistance, payment extension, Medical Device Alert | TEP says Lifeline enrollment may take up to two bill cycles. |
| UniSource | UniSource CARES, short-term help, weatherization partners | CARES customers must reapply each year. |
| Southwest Gas | SW Gas programs, LIRA, Energy Share, bill assistance | Gas help may depend on season, income, and partner agency funding. |
If you are not sure which company serves you, look at your bill or landlord paperwork. If utilities are included in rent and you receive an eviction notice because utilities are unpaid, tell the agency that when applying for energy help.
Water, sewer, and trash bill help
Arizona’s federal Low Income Household Water Assistance Program is not a current application path. DES says LIHWAP funds were exhausted and applications stopped being accepted in 2023. That means water help is now mostly local.
Phoenix customers should check Phoenix water help and ask about Project Assist or local partner aid. Tucson customers should check Tucson Water CARES, which can lower water, sewer, and garbage costs for customers who qualify. EPCOR customers can review EPCOR assistance, including its low-income credit in eligible Arizona service areas.
If you live in Maricopa County outside Phoenix, Mesa, and Glendale, check Maricopa utility help. In other counties, your best path is usually your local Community Action Agency, city human services office, or 2-1-1.
Weatherization can lower future bills
Weatherization is different from bill payment help. It can make a home use less energy through work such as insulation, sealing leaks, or other energy improvements allowed by the program. Arizona’s weatherization program is run through local providers.
This is not usually same-day help. It may involve a waitlist, inspection, landlord permission for renters, and home safety checks. It is still worth asking about if your cooling bill is too high every summer.
Documents and information to gather
Missing documents are one of the biggest reasons utility help is delayed. Keep photos or scans on your phone if you can.
| Item | Why it matters | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Photo ID | Confirms who is applying | Ask about paper options if online ID checks fail. |
| Current utility bill | Shows account number and balance | Send the full bill, not only a screenshot of the amount. |
| Shutoff notice | Shows crisis status | Upload every page and highlight the shutoff date. |
| Income proof | Shows eligibility | Use recent pay stubs, benefit letters, or agency-approved proof. |
| Lease or landlord note | Helps if utilities are in rent | Show how utilities are billed to your household. |
| Medical form | Supports medical utility programs | Ask the utility for its exact form before the doctor signs. |
Common mistakes to avoid
- Waiting until the shutoff day to call the utility.
- Assuming summer rules erase the bill. A pause does not cancel the balance.
- Submitting only part of a bill or missing income proof.
- Applying for water help through LIHWAP without checking that Arizona’s program is closed.
- Ignoring the utility company’s own discount programs after applying for LIHEAP.
- Paying a fee to a website that promises faster approval. Use official agencies and trusted nonprofits.
What to do if help is denied, delayed, or not enough
First, ask what is missing. A denial may be about documents, income, duplicate benefits, identity verification, or a rule you can correct. Arizona DES says LIHEAP applicants have grievance options if an application is not acted on in time or if they disagree with a decision.
Second, layer other help. Ask the utility for a payment plan, apply with a partner agency, and call 2-1-1 again. New appointment slots can open, and agencies may have different funds for APS, SRP, TEP, UniSource, Southwest Gas, or city water bills.
Third, look at related needs. If a utility bill is part of a bigger crisis, use Arizona emergency help, Arizona TANF, Arizona SNAP, and Arizona child care as backup paths. If health coverage or a medical device is involved, also see Arizona health coverage.
Backup options when funding is tight
When utility funds run low, widen the search without losing time. Ask local churches, St. Vincent de Paul conferences, The Salvation Army, community centers, school family resource offices, and county human services offices whether they have utility pledges or cooling help.
For broader help, use community support, Arizona WIC, and job training to reduce pressure on the household budget. For national next steps, see help with bills, housing basics, and Arizona grants guide.
Wildfire’s energy assistance page can also point families toward utility-supported funds and screening tools. Availability changes, so use it as a lead, not a guarantee.
Phone scripts you can use
Calling your utility
“Hi, my name is ____. I am a residential customer and I have a shutoff notice dated ____. I am applying for LIHEAP or Power AZ. Can you place a hardship note on my account, set a payment arrangement, and tell me about any discount or crisis program I can apply for today?”
Calling the LIHEAP line or CAA
“I need help with an Arizona utility assistance application. I have a past-due bill and a shutoff date. Can you tell me which documents are missing, whether my case is marked as crisis, and which local agency is handling my file?”
Calling a water provider
“I am behind on my water or city services bill. Do you have a low-income discount, Project Assist, CARES, payment plan, or partner agency that helps with past-due balances?”
Calling about medical equipment
“Someone in my home uses medical equipment or has a medical condition that needs power. What medical alert or medical care form should my doctor complete, and what protections or notifications does it provide?”
Resumen en español
Si necesita ayuda con la luz, gas, agua o basura en Arizona, llame primero a la compañĂa para pedir un plan de pago o una pausa por dificultad. DespuĂ©s, solicite ayuda por LIHEAP o Power AZ en la página oficial de DES. Si tiene aviso de corte, diga la fecha exacta y mande todos los documentos.
Para ayuda local, llame al 2-1-1 o a su agencia de acciĂłn comunitaria. En calor extremo, busque centros de enfriamiento. Si alguien usa equipo mĂ©dico elĂ©ctrico, pida a la compañĂa el formulario mĂ©dico correcto.
FAQ
Can LIHEAP pay my full Arizona utility bill?
Sometimes it can cover a large part of a bill, but it is not guaranteed to pay the full amount. Arizona uses benefit rules based on income, energy burden, household needs, and available funding.
Is Power AZ the same as LIHEAP?
No. Arizona DES says Power AZ is administered alongside LIHEAP and uses the same combined application, but it has different income rules. DES screens applicants for both programs.
Can my electricity be shut off during Arizona summer?
Do not assume you are fully protected. Shutoff rules and company policies can vary by utility, weather, date, and account status. Call your utility and check current Arizona disconnection rules.
Does Arizona still have water bill help through LIHWAP?
No current LIHWAP applications are being accepted in Arizona because funding was exhausted. Check your city, county, water company, Community Action Agency, or 2-1-1 for local water help.
What if I was denied utility help?
Ask for the reason in writing, fix missing documents if possible, and ask about review or appeal rights. Also call the utility, 2-1-1, and local agencies for other funds.
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.