Last updated: May 20, 2026
Bottom line
If you are a single mother in Utah and you cannot keep up with a power, gas, cooling, or water bill, start with Utah’s Home Energy Assistance Target program, usually called HEAT. HEAT is Utah’s LIHEAP program. It can help eligible low-income households with home energy costs and crisis needs while funding is available.
HEAT is not only for winter. Utah describes HEAT as year-round energy help for eligible households. If you use Rocky Mountain Power, a HEAT approval may also connect you to the Home Electric Lifeline Program, known as HELP. If you use Enbridge Gas Utah, ask about REACH after you apply for HEAT. If you are facing a shutoff, call your utility first, then contact your local HEAT office and Utah 211.
If your utility may be shut off soon
Do not wait for the shutoff date. Call the utility company on your bill today. Ask for a deferred payment agreement, a budget plan if offered, and a temporary hold while you apply for assistance. Utah utility rules say regulated utilities must offer certain customer protections, including notice before disconnection and at least one 12-month deferred payment plan for a financial emergency.
If someone in your home has a serious illness, life-support equipment, or a medical need that would be harmed by losing service, ask the utility what medical form or provider statement it needs. A medical statement can delay shutoff, but it does not erase the bill.
Then contact your local HEAT office. Tell them you have a shutoff notice or no service. Also dial 2-1-1, call 888-826-9790, or text your ZIP code to 801-845-2211 to reach Utah 211.
Where to start
Your first step depends on how urgent the bill is. If you have a shutoff notice, no heat, no power, or a medical risk in the home, call the utility first. Ask for a hold or payment plan before you start filling out forms. Then apply for HEAT and tell the HEAT office that it is a crisis.
If your bill is high but not past due, apply for HEAT through Utah HEAT or the HEAT portal. You can also print forms from HEAT forms and send them to your local office.
If the problem is long-term high usage, not just one bill, ask about Weatherization. Weatherization may help with energy-saving repairs or improvements for eligible households. It will not fix a shutoff today, but it can lower future bills.
Quick help table
| Your situation | Start here | What to ask |
|---|---|---|
| You have a shutoff notice | Your utility and local HEAT office | Ask for a payment plan, crisis review, and a temporary hold. |
| Your bill is too high | Utah HEAT | Ask if your household can apply now and what proof is needed. |
| You use Rocky Mountain Power | HEAT or HELP | Ask if HEAT approval will connect you to HELP bill credits. |
| You use Enbridge Gas Utah | HEAT, then REACH | Ask if you must have HEAT approval before REACH. |
| Your water bill is past due | City utility and Utah 211 | Ask about local water funds, payment plans, or Project Water ASSIST if in Salt Lake City. |
| Your home wastes energy | Weatherization | Ask how to apply and whether your family has priority. |
Utah HEAT: the main utility assistance program
HEAT helps eligible Utah households with home energy costs. The state says a household may qualify when total household income is at or below 150% of the federal poverty level, the household is responsible for home energy costs, the household has at least one adult or emancipated person, and the household includes at least one U.S. citizen or qualified non-citizen. The local office may ask for more proof based on your case.
Apply through the state’s HEAT portal, by using the state application, or through your county HEAT office. If you live in Salt Lake or Tooele County, Utah Community Action handles HEAT intake for many households. If you live in Utah, Wasatch, or Summit County, check MAG HEAT. Southern Utah households may use Five County HEAT. Southeastern Utah households can check SERDA HEAT.
HEAT is usually one benefit per program year, and the program year runs from October 1 through September 30. The state has used October for priority groups, such as households with a young child, disability, or older adult, and November for regular applications. Funding can run out, so apply as soon as you know you need help.
Tip for single mothers
Ask the HEAT office how it counts child support, alimony, recent job loss, seasonal work, and shared housing. Do not guess on the form. If the children live with you and the bills are in your name, bring proof of the household and the utility bill.
Other Utah programs that can help
HEAT is the first stop, but it is not the only tool. Some utility programs work best after HEAT approval. Others are local and depend on where you live.
| Program | What it helps with | Reality check |
|---|---|---|
| Utah HEAT | Power, gas, heating, cooling, and crisis energy help. | Eligibility, documents, timing, and funding matter. |
| HELP | Monthly Rocky Mountain Power credit for qualified customers. | DWS lists the HELP credit as a maximum of $18.00 this year. Check the current page before relying on it. |
| REACH | Supplemental Enbridge Gas Utah credit after HEAT approval. | It is administered through The Salvation Army and is not unlimited. |
| Weatherization | Energy-saving home improvements for eligible households. | It can take time and will not solve a same-day shutoff. |
| Water ASSIST | Salt Lake City Public Utilities bill help. | It is local to Salt Lake City customers and is managed with The Salvation Army. |
| Utah 211 search | Local charities, churches, city funds, and emergency referrals. | Listings change. Call before going in person. |
Your rights when you cannot pay
This section is general information, not legal advice. Utah utility rules can be detailed, and some rules apply to regulated utilities. Municipal utilities and special service districts may have their own procedures, but it is still worth asking about payment plans, medical forms, and complaint options.
The Utah Division of Public Utilities explains that regulated utilities must give certain notices before disconnection, offer at least one 12-month deferred payment plan for a financial emergency, and continue service for a reasonable time when a doctor’s statement shows a medical emergency in the home. The state also says you should contact the utility when you expect a payment problem.
Use the DPU rights page and Rule R746-200-7 when you need exact wording. If the utility will not work with you, call the Utah Division of Public Utilities Complaint Office at 801-530-7622 in Salt Lake City or 1-800-874-0904 statewide.
Important warning
A medical delay or payment plan does not cancel the bill. Keep paying what you can, keep every notice, and ask for the agreement in writing or by email.
Documents to gather before applying
Missing paperwork is one of the most common reasons applications slow down. The state HEAT page lists common items such as copies of power or heat bills, proof of all income received by household members in the month before the application month, proof of eligible medical expenses or support paid, proof of disability if applicable, and any extra documents requested by the office.
| Document | Why it matters | Practical note |
|---|---|---|
| Photo ID | Shows who is applying. | Ask the office what it accepts if your ID is expired. |
| Utility bill | Shows account, vendor, and amount owed. | Bring the newest bill and any shutoff notice. |
| Income proof | HEAT uses household income. | Include work income, benefits, support, and recent changes. |
| Household proof | Shows who lives in the home. | Include children and adults living there. |
| Medical or disability proof | May affect priority or protections. | Ask what form or statement is needed. |
| Child support or alimony proof | May be counted or deducted depending on the issue. | Use official forms if the HEAT office asks. |
You can find state forms on the HEAT forms page. For the application packet, use the current HEAT application.
Local help in Utah
Utah utility help is local. Your county may use an Association of Governments, a Community Action agency, or another nonprofit intake office. Start with the official HEAT offices list because it routes you by county.
Wasatch Front
Salt Lake and Tooele County residents can check Utah Community Action. Weber, Davis, and Morgan County residents can check Futures HEAT.
Utah County area
Utah, Wasatch, and Summit County households can start with MAG HEAT. Ask about mail, phone, online, or in-person options.
Southern Utah
Washington, Iron, Beaver, Garfield, and Kane County households can check Five County apply.
Statewide search
Use Utah 211 search for food, rent, utility, transportation, and emergency referrals near your ZIP code.
A practical path for single mothers
Utility help often works best when you stack the right steps instead of looking for one perfect program. A good order is:
- Call the utility and ask for a payment plan or hold.
- Apply for HEAT and mark the case as crisis if there is a shutoff notice.
- Ask if HEAT approval also enrolls you in HELP or supports REACH.
- Call Utah 211 for local churches, city funds, diapers, food, and transportation help.
- Apply for Weatherization if the home has high energy use.
If utilities are part of a bigger money problem, also check ASMOM’s Utah help guide, emergency assistance, and community support pages.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Waiting until service is off. A shutoff notice gives you more options than a disconnected account.
- Only calling one place. Call the utility, HEAT, and Utah 211. They do different things.
- Assuming water is covered statewide. Water help is often local. Ask your city and 211.
- Leaving off income. Missing or wrong income details can delay or deny the application.
- Ignoring mail or voicemail. HEAT offices may ask for more documents quickly.
- Paying a fee for help. Official applications and 211 referrals should not require a paid middleman.
Backup options if HEAT is delayed or denied
If HEAT is delayed, call your utility again and explain that an application is pending. Ask whether the company can note the account and whether proof of application helps. If you were denied because of missing documents, ask whether you can reopen the case or reapply with the missing proof.
For a larger crisis, use related help too. Food help can free up money for utilities, so check Utah SNAP help and Utah WIC. If a utility problem is tied to eviction, unsafe housing, or a landlord issue, check Utah housing help and Utah legal help.
If your income recently dropped, you may also want to review Utah TANF, Utah child care, and job loss help.
Phone scripts you can use
Calling the utility
“Hi, my name is ____. I am a residential customer and I cannot pay the full past-due amount today. I want to avoid shutoff. Can you review a 12-month deferred payment agreement, a temporary hold, and any low-income or medical forms that apply?”
Calling HEAT
“Hi, I am a single parent in ____ County. I need help with my utility bill. I have a shutoff notice dated ____. What is the fastest way to submit a HEAT application and mark it as crisis?”
Calling Utah 211
“Hi, I need utility assistance in ZIP code ____. I already contacted my utility and HEAT. Are there any local funds, churches, city programs, or emergency programs that help with power, gas, or water bills?”
Calling about a medical need
“Someone in my home has a medical condition or life-support equipment. What exact form or provider statement do you need to delay shutoff? Where should the doctor send it?”
Resumen en español
Si necesita ayuda con la luz, gas, calefacción, aire acondicionado o agua en Utah, empiece con el programa HEAT. Si tiene aviso de corte, llame primero a la compañía de servicios y pida un plan de pagos. Después llame a la oficina local de HEAT y diga que tiene una crisis.
También puede llamar al 2-1-1, al 888-826-9790, o enviar su código postal por texto al 801-845-2211. Si alguien en la casa tiene una condición médica, pregunte a la compañía qué carta o formulario médico necesita. La ayuda médica puede retrasar el corte, pero no borra la deuda.
FAQs about Utah utility assistance
Does Utah HEAT help single mothers only?
No. HEAT is household-based. A single mother may qualify if her household meets the program rules, but fathers, grandparents, pregnant mothers, and other caregivers can also apply if they meet the rules.
Can I apply for HEAT if my bill is in my name?
Yes, that is common. HEAT usually needs proof that the household is responsible for home energy costs. If utilities are included in rent, ask your local HEAT office what proof it needs.
Can HEAT stop a shutoff?
It may help in a crisis, but do not rely on HEAT alone. Call your utility first and ask for a payment plan or hold. Then contact your local HEAT office and say you have a shutoff notice.
Is there help for water bills in Utah?
Water help is often local. Salt Lake City has Project Water ASSIST for qualifying city utility customers. Other cities may have payment plans or local funds. Utah 211 can help search by ZIP code.
What if my HEAT application is denied?
Ask for the reason in writing. If it was missing paperwork, ask if you can submit the missing proof. If you think the decision was wrong or unfair, ask the HEAT office how to request review or appeal.
Can a medical issue keep utilities on?
A medical statement can delay shutoff or support special handling under Utah rules, but it does not cancel the bill. Call the utility and ask exactly what provider statement or form is required.
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.