Utility Assistance for Single Mothers in Vermont

Where to start

Start with the bill that can harm your household first. In Vermont, that is usually heat, electric service, gas service, or water. If you rent and utilities are included in rent, also check Vermont housing help because a rent crisis can also become a utility crisis.

For a wider benefit plan, use Vermont single mother help, then add food, child care, health care, and transportation support if those bills are keeping you from paying utilities.

Quick help table

Vermont Fuel Assistance for heating bills

Vermont Fuel Assistance is the state’s LIHEAP program. It helps eligible households pay part of home heating costs. It may help if you own or rent, and it may still help when heat is included in rent. The state says the program can pay a fuel supplier, issue benefits for wood or pellets, or issue benefits to households with heat included in rent.

The income limit for seasonal Fuel Assistance is tied to 185% of the federal poverty guidelines. The exact income number changes by household size and year, so check the current limit before you decide you are over income.

You can start with help with bills for a national overview, but for Vermont you should use the state application path. Apply through MyBenefits when available, call DCF at 1-800-479-6151 if you need help, or ask for a paper application. If you already receive Vermont SNAP help, Reach Up, or other benefits, have that information ready because it may make verification easier.

Crisis Fuel Assistance

Crisis Fuel Assistance is for heating emergencies. Vermont’s crisis rules say the program may help households at risk of being without heat. It can involve fuel delivery, overdue bill help, electric service needed to run heat, natural gas, furnace repair, or related emergency help.

Crisis Fuel is not the same as a guaranteed cash payment. The state rules say crisis help is not an entitlement, and the program can be limited by funding and rules. For the 2024 rules, the income limit is up to 200% of the federal poverty guidelines. A household must also meet residency and status rules and have a real heating emergency.

Apply through Community Action. The five agencies cover the state, and the energy assistance page can help you find your region. During busy cold weeks, phone lines can be slow. Leave a clear message with your name, town, fuel type, shutoff date if any, and the safest way to reach you.

Utility discounts and payment plans

Discount programs lower future bills. They may not erase the whole past-due balance, but they can make a payment plan easier to keep.

• Green Mountain Power: The GMP Energy Assistance program gives eligible customers a 25% monthly discount on certain charges. GMP says eligibility is verified through DCF, and customers must re-enroll each year.
• Burlington Electric: The BED assistance page says accepted customers can receive a bill credit. Burlington Electric may use proof from Fuel Assistance, 3SquaresVT, Vermont Gas assistance, Section 8, or another income method.
• Vermont Gas: The Vermont Gas form says eligible residential customers can receive a 20% discount and must include a recent gas bill.
• Other utilities: Ask your electric co-op, town water office, fuel dealer, or propane company about budget billing, hardship funds, arrears plans, and medical certificate rules.

Ask about payment plans even if you are applying for help. A pending application may not stop collection by itself. If you need help with other costs so you can keep up with the plan, look at Vermont TANF help, Vermont WIC benefits, and Vermont child care help.

Shutoff protections and complaints

Vermont has rules for residential gas, electric, and water disconnection. These rules cover notice, delinquency, repayment plans, special protections, and how utilities must handle some shutoff steps. The rule text is technical, so use it as a backup and call for help if you are not sure what it means.

If you receive a shutoff notice, call the utility and ask for the exact amount needed to stop shutoff, the lowest payment plan they can offer, and whether a medical certificate, winter rule, or age-related rule applies. If someone in the household has a serious health issue that would be made unsafe by loss of service, ask the utility what medical certificate process it uses. Do not wait until the morning of disconnection.

For rules, see Vermont’s disconnection rule. For help with a utility dispute, contact the Department of Public Service Consumer Affairs. The Public Utility Commission says people are strongly encouraged to begin with Consumer Affairs before filing with the Commission.

Lower future bills with weatherization

Weatherization can help if your home is drafty, hard to heat, or using too much energy. The state Weatherization Assistance Program is a free program for income-eligible households. Vermont’s program says owner-occupied homes and rental homes can be weatherized when the occupant is eligible.

The process can include an application, efficiency coaching, an energy audit, heating system checks, air sealing, insulation, and a final inspection. This is not same-day help for a shutoff notice. It is a longer fix that may make next winter easier.

Start with Vermont weatherization or call your local weatherization provider. You can also ask Efficiency Vermont about free services, renter energy kits, appliance help, rebates, and language support. If you live in a rural area and transportation is a barrier, also check rural mother support.

Water, phone, and internet help

Water and sewer help is more local now. Vermont Rural Water says the past COVID-era water and sewer bill programs, including LIHWAP, have ended. If you have a water bill problem, call your town, fire district, private water provider, or landlord first. Then call 2-1-1 to ask about local funds.

For phone and internet, be careful with old pages that still talk about the Affordable Connectivity Program. ACP ended in 2024. The federal Lifeline program still exists for eligible households and can be used for phone service or broadband. You may qualify through income or a benefit such as SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, Federal Public Housing Assistance, or Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit.

Use Lifeline eligibility and USAC Lifeline to check current rules. For device, internet, or online application help, see Vermont tech help.

Documents and information to gather

Programs may ask for different proof. Gather what you have before calling, but still call even if you are missing something. Ask what can be used instead.

What to do if you are denied, delayed, or ignored

Ask for the denial or decision in writing. Ask what rule was used and what proof would change the decision. If the issue is a utility company, use the Department of Public Service first, then the Public Utility Commission if needed. If the issue is DCF or a public benefit, ask about appeal rights or a fair hearing.

Legal help may be useful if you face shutoff, unsafe housing, a denied benefit, or a landlord-utility problem. Start with Vermont legal help. If utility loss would affect medical care, pregnancy, postpartum recovery, or a child’s health, also look at Vermont health care help.

If there is abuse, stalking, or control over utilities, phones, money, or transportation, use a safe device and contact a trained advocate. Vermont safety resources can help you find safer support.