With colder weather approaching, Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania reminds customers who need financial assistance with their utility bills to apply for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. The enrollment period begins December 3 and offers one-time cash grants to qualifying applicants for home heating bills or emergency heating repairs.
Households can apply for grants through April 10, 2026, or until funds are exhausted.
LIHEAP is a federally funded program administered through the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS). This season’s grants range from $200 to $1,000. Crisis grants are also available, ranging from $25 to $1,000, to assist income-eligible households without heat or in danger of being without heat.
“If you are struggling financially, LIHEAP can help you maintain your utility service and stay safe and warm in your home during the winter months,” said Deb Davis, Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania manager, Universal Services. “Eligibility requirements change from year to year, so if you didn’t qualify in the past, you may qualify for assistance now, so apply this season. The great thing about LIHEAP is that it offers one-time grants, so you don’t have to repay them.”
Customers can apply online through the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Access to Social Service website (COMPASS) at www.compass.state.pa.us, or they can request an application by calling the statewide LIHEAP hotline at 1-866-857-7095. More information can be found at the state’s LIHEAP resource page at LIHEAP (pa.gov).
Customers also can request an application for LIHEAP by completing a form on the Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania website.
The income eligibility limit for the 2025-2026 program is 150 percent of the federal income guidelines. This means that an individual with an annual income of up to $23,475 is eligible to apply. A family of four can earn an annual income of up to $48,225. Last season, more than 18,000 Columbia Gas customers received LIHEAP grants to help with their energy costs.
“If you allow the sharing of your household information with Columbia Gas on your LIHEAP application, you may be eligible to participate in other energy assistance programs to assist with your home heating costs without the requirement to submit income documentation,” said Davis.
In addition to LIHEAP, Columbia Gas offers other assistance programs that offer flexible payment options, budget plans and income-eligible financial support. Customer can visit the Columbia Gas Energy Assistance Resource Center to access energy assistance fact sheets and an eligibility calculator to determine what programs that may best meet their financial situation.
