Assistance Programs

The North Carolina Department of Social Services offers several ways to assist customers with their energy bills. Contact your local Department of Social Services to apply and for additional information.

Crisis Intervention Program (CIP)

This program assists individuals and families who are experiencing a heating or cooling related crisis.

Application Period

• July 1 through June 30, or until funds are exhausted.

Eligibility Requirements

• Have at least one U.S. citizen or non-citizen who meets the eligibility criteria.
• Meet income requirements.
• Must have a health related or life threatening emergency to potentially be eligible.
• Have a utility statement that shows how much is owed to alleviate the crisis. (A disconnected notice is not currently required. A final notice or past due utility bill may be presented.)

How to Apply

• Option 1: Apply online through ePass – North Carolina's secure, web-based, self-service tool to apply for and manage benefits.
• Option 2: Contact your local Department of Social Services.

Low Income Energy Assistance (LIEAP)

This program provides for a one-time utility vendor payment to help eligible households pay their heating bills.

Application Period

• December 1 – 31: Household with a person age 60 or older, or with a disabled person receiving services through the NC Division of Aging and Adult Services may apply.
• January 1 – March 31: All other households may apply until funds are exhausted.

Eligibility Requirements

• Have at least one U.S. citizen or non-citizen who meets the eligibility criteria.
• Meet income requirements.
• Have reserves at or below $2,250.
• Be responsible for the households heating costs.

How to Apply

• Option 1: Apply online through ePass – North Carolina's secure, web-based, self-service tool to apply for and manage benefits.
• Option 2: Contact your local Department of Social Services.

EnergyShare^® is our year-round energy assistance program of last resort and is available to anyone who faces financial hardship, regardless of income.

Application Period

• October 1 – May 30

Benefit Amount

• $600 maximum

Eligibility Requirements

• No income restrictions.
• Must demonstrate a crisis.
• Must have heating expense responsibility.
• Must be a resident of the locality in which application is made.

How to Apply

• Application is through one of our partnering agencies. Download a list of EnergyShare^® Agencies.

North Carolina 2-1-1

This free service can refer you to additional available utility assistance programs in your locality, from non-profits to houses of faith.

• All referrals are free and confidential.
• North Carolina 2-1-1 is available 24/7, by phone (dial 2-1-1 or by visiting nc211.org.
• Trained professionals can refer you to resources for many needs:
  • Utility and rental assistance programs
  • Food banks
  • Shelters
  • Physical and mental health resources
  • Child care and elder care
  • And many more
• North Carolina 2-1-1 does not provide financial assistance or take applications for any programs, but provides referrals to available programs in your

North Carolina Department of Social Services (NC DSS)

North Carolina Department of Social Services programs are designed to help North Carolina's most vulnerable citizens find solutions to life's many challenges.

The Department administers a variety of programs, including Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program called Work First (WF), Food and Nutrition Services (Food Stamps), Medicaid, child and adult services, disability services, and more.

Emergency Assistance (Short-Term Financial Assistance for Families in Crisis)

Families who are experiencing a financial emergency may be eligible for financial help to pay for housing and utilities.

Eligibility Requirements

Families that meet the following criteria may be eligible:

• The family must have a child who lives with a relative as defined for Work First Family Assistance.
• Total income must be at or below 200% of poverty level.
• The family has proof of identity and citizenship.

How to Apply

Work First applicants are required to register for the First Stop Employment Assistance Program with the Employment Security Commission. Failure to register results in the family's ineligibility for Work First Family Assistance.

Apply at your local Department of Social Services.

If you or someone in your household have a serious medical need for electricity (such as needing electricity for a ventilator, continuous oxygen, feeding tube, etc.), you may submit a Serious Medical Condition form to Dominion Energy.

• Submitting the form does not get rid of the past-due balance, reduce the bill amount, or guarantee electric service will not be interrupted or disconnected. It merely alerts Dominion Energy that someone living in the home has a serious health condition that would be impacted by disconnection of service.
• A Serious Medical Condition form on file will allow two 30-day extensions during the 12 months the form is on the account.
  • The extension may be used to prevent disconnection of service or;
  • Reconnect service without payment if services have been disconnected.
• The form must be renewed every 12 months. Otherwise, we'll assume the condition no longer exists and the medical notation will be removed.

If Your Power Goes Out:

• We will make every effort to restore service quickly.
• Prepare yourself beforehand by having battery or manually-powered medical equipment available to you, if possible.
• Have a plan in place to receive proper care from someone else, perhaps with family or a friend, until your service is restored.

Contact Dominion Energy to have a form sent to you or download a form to give to your physician.

• The form requires a physician's statement and signature.
• Forms received by 4:00 p.m. each business day will be completed the same day.
• All information must be completed or the form may be denied.
• Completed forms may be emailed to demedical@dominionenergy.com.

Dominion Energy provides a variety of payment options for our customers. A few of these options are listed below:

• Online for Free:
  Make an immediate payment or schedule a payment from your checking account. It's free!
• Online or by Phone:
  Pay using a debit or credit card as a One Time Payment or call 866-366-4357.
  • $1.65 transaction fee.
  • Payment will reflect immediately as a pending payment on your account.
• In Person:
  Visit any authorized payment center to pay your bill.
  • $1.50 convenience fee.
  • Payment will reflect immediately as a pending payment on your account.

Need more time to pay? Special payment arrangements are available for a limited time.

Sign in to see if you're eligible or call us at 866-366-4357 to set up a plan.

• Available for residential and commercial customers.
• There are no fees associated with payment plans.

Short-Term Payment Extensions

A payment extension provides more time to pay your bill. Participation depends on the status of your account. See if you're eligible.

• A short-term payment extension allows you extra time to pay your bill, however you cannot schedule this payment past your next bill date.

Long-Term Payment Plans

A long-term payment plan is an arrangement to pay your current bill and set amount towards a past due balance each month. It divides the past due balance into equal payments.

• A long-term payment plan may require a down payment and will spread out the remaining balance up to 6 months, allowing you to pay a portion of your balance in addition to your current monthly bill charges.
• A 1% late payment charge will be applied to the remaining past due balance on each bill until the payment plan is complete.
• Extensions can be made while on Bank Draft or Budget Bill.
• Over payments will be deducted from next month's set amount.
• Failure to pay the amount agreed upon will break the arrangement and may limit the ability for future plans.

Pay the same amount each month. There are no extra fees.

• Reduce bill fluctuations due to hot or cold weather. Budget makes it easier to manage your budget and expenses with a predictable bill.
• Your monthly budget bill is the average of your previous 12 bills.
• You'll receive a bill with your actual charges but will be billed the budget amount.
• The budget amount is reviewed periodically and may increase or decrease based on how much energy is used.

Requirements:

• Your account must be current to enroll.
• 12 months of billing history is required for the budget billing calculation.
• If you miss two payments, you will be unenrolled and the total account balance will be due.