The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs recently launched Texas Utility Help to help eligible low-income Texas homeowners and renters pay their utility bills. The statewide program works to distribute funding from the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program and federal Low Income Household Water Assistance Program.

Texas homeowners and renters may submit an application for help if their household income is at or below 150% of Federal Poverty Income Guidelines, and they meet other eligibility criteria. The maximum household income depends on the number of people living in the household. Full eligibility criteria are available at TexasUtilityHelp.com.

“We launched Texas Utility Help at the state level to make it easier for even more Texans to access and benefit from utility assistance programs,” said Bobby Wilkinson, Housing and Community Affairs executive director. “The new program uses a streamlined online application process, so any eligible Texas household can apply for both energy and water bill assistance in a single form.”

Qualified applicants can receive assistance for their total past due amounts for electricity, natural gas, and propane, plus up to $2,400 in prospective payments. For water and wastewater assistance, qualified applicants can pay off their total past due payments and up to $600 in prospective payments. All payments are issued directly to the utility company on behalf of the applicant.

Texas Utility Help has over $50 million ready for Texas homeowners and renters in need. Program staff are encouraging applicants to apply as soon as possible while these funds are still available.

For more information and questions, the call center is staffed Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.-6 p.m., and can be reached toll free at 855-566-2057. Help is available in multiple languages.