Assistance Programs

A program of the Virginia Department of Social Services to help pay electric bills to operate heating equipment.

Application Period

• Second Tuesday in October to second Friday in November

Benefit Amount

• Benefit varies annually and by household.
• Benefits are determined and applied late December.

Eligibility Requirements

• Must be a resident of the locality in which application is made.
• Must have a heating expense responsibility.
• Must meet income requirements.
• Visit the Virginia Department of Social Services website for a list of eligibility requirements.

How to Apply

• Option 1 Online: Screen for eligibility and/or apply at CommonHelp.
• Option 2 Phone: 855-635-4370 (Monday – Friday, 7:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.).
• Option 3 In Person / By Mail / By Fax: At your local Department of Social Services:
  • State Fuel Assistance Application | English Version | En español

A program of the Virginia Department of Social Services assisting with equipment, security deposits and payment of heating fuel and utility bills.

Application Period

• First working day of January – March 15

Benefit Amount

• Benefit amount varies annually.

Eligibility Requirements

• Must be a resident of the locality in which application is made.
• There must be a heating emergency, such as:
  • Lack of heat.
  • Imminent utility cut-off.
  • Inoperable or unsafe heating equipment.
• Must meet income requirements.
• Visit the Virginia Department of Social Services website for a list of eligibility requirements.

How to Apply

• Option 1 Online: Screen for eligibility and/or apply at CommonHelp.
• Option 2 Phone: 855-635-4370 (Monday – Friday, 7:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.).
• Option 3 In Person / By Mail / By Fax: At your local Department of Social Services:
  • State Crisis Assistance Application | English Version | En español

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.

A program of the Virginia Department of Social Services assisting with the purchase and installation of air conditioning units, security deposit and payment to the electric bill to help operate cooling equipment.

Application Period

• June 15 – August 15

Benefit Amount

• Benefit amounts varies annually.

Eligibility Requirements

• Must be a resident of the locality in which application is made.
• Must have a cooling expense responsibility.
• Must meet income requirements.
• Visit the Virginia Department of Social Services website for a list of eligibility requirements.

How to Apply

• Option 1 Online: Screen for eligibility and/or apply at CommonHelp.
• Option 2 Phone: 855-635-4370 (Monday – Friday, 7:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.).
• Option 3 In Person / By Mail / By Fax: At your local Department of Social Services:
  • State Fuel Assistance Application | English Version | En español

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

• June 1 – September 30

Benefit Amount

• $300 maximum

Eligibility Requirements

• No income restrictions.
• Must demonstrate a crisis.
• Must have cooling 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.

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.
• 2-1-1 Virginia is available 24/7, by phone (dial 2-1-1) or by visiting 211virginia.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 much more
• 2-1-1 Virginia does not provide financial assistance or take applications for any programs, but provides referrals to available programs in your area.

PIPP is a billing program helping income challenged Dominion Energy customers manage their electric bills year-round.

Your monthly bill amount, or “PIPP Amount,” is based on a percentage of your household income and primary heat source.

• Electric Heat = 10% of income
• Other Heat Source = 6% of income

PIPP Billing Example

For example, if your monthly income is $1,000 and your primary heat source is electric, your monthly PIPP payment would be capped at $100 (10% of your income).

PIPP participants pay a set PIPP amount each month instead of the actual bill amount. This set amount helps you manage seasonal ups and downs of your energy bill more easily.

In addition, PIPP customers do not pay a security deposit and are not assessed late fees.

Each month, when your PIPP amount is paid in-full and on-time, a portion of your actual account balance is reduced through incentive credits applied to your account.

• A credit for the difference between the current bill amount and the amount paid as long as the total PIPP amount due is satisfied.
• A 1/12^th credit of the past due balance (calculated at enrollment).
• If you make 12 consecutive on-time and in-full payments starting from when you enroll, your entire balance will be cleared.

• Make your monthly PIPP payment on-time and in-full to earn credits to reduce your account balance.
• Seek bill payment assistance if you are unable to pay your PIPP payment on-time and in-full.
• You are required to reverify your income with the Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) every 12 months or as your household income changes. If you don't reverify your income, you may be removed from the program.
• Sign in to your online account and enroll in AutoPay to ensure your monthly PIPP payment is automatically paid on-time and in-full.
  • Don't have an online account? Register now and get started.

Different programs work better for different customer situations. PIPP is a billing program designed for customers to pay a set monthly amount based on their income.

If you're considering PIPP, it's important to determine if this program is right for you. Here are a couple of questions to help you decide if PIPP is a good fit:

• What is the primary source for my heat?
  • If I heat with Dominion Energy, I will pay 10% of my monthly income.
  • If I heat with any other source, I will pay 6% of my monthly income.
• Is my monthly bill amount more or less than the amount of my monthly income I would pay?
  • To review your bill amounts for the past 12 months, you can sign in to your online account and check your bill history.
• Do I have a past due balance I can't pay?

• You will not earn that month's Incentive Credits.
• You will owe the missed PIPP payment and your current PIPP payment on your next bill.
• Your service may be subject to disconnection for non-payment.
• If your account closes due to non-payment, your account may be removed from PIPP.
• If you are removed from PIPP, your entire account balance is due. This includes any charges accumulated prior to PIPP enrollment.

If you no longer want to participate in PIPP, you have several ways to request removal. Contacting us would be the fastest way to have PIPP removed from your account.

1. Give us a call at 866-366-4357 to request removal with an agent.
   • You will be responsible for your account balance.
2. Contact your local DSS office and request to be removed from PIPP.
   • PIPP will be removed from your account once Dominion Energy receives the information. You will become responsible for your balance when the request to remove PIPP is received from the VDSS.

Customers who are enrolled in Shared Solar may not be enrolled in PIPP while participating in Shared Solar.

Customers who have applied and been approved eligible for PIPP by the VDSS will be rejected from PIPP enrollment and a letter will be sent advising of the rejection.

If you prefer to continue participating in Shared Solar, no further action needed.

If you prefer to be enrolled in PIPP and no longer wish to participate in Shared Solar, follow these steps:

• Contact your Subscription Management Service (SMS) and request to end the contract. The SMS will provide information on how to end the contract, timing, and any associated fees. Dominion Energy cannot manage or terminate this contract directly.
  • Contact Dominion Energy if you do not know your SMS.
  • Removal from Shared Solar can take up to 90 days.
  • Dominion Energy cannot accept the removal confirmation letter sent by the SMS as notification of removal from Shared Solar.
• Once the SMS notifies Dominion Energy to remove your account from the Shared Solar program, please contact the DSS to re-apply for PIPP.
  • The original PIPP approval cannot be used to enroll the account in PIPP.
• Until the PIPP enrollment is complete, you will be responsible for your bill and any outstanding charges. For payment arrangements or bill payment assistance, visit dominionenergy.com/billhelp or contact us at 866-366-4357.
• Once the PIPP enrollment is confirmed, only the PIPP amount will be due on your current and future bills. A letter will be mailed/emailed to you to confirm the enrollment.

Eligibility Requirements

• Customer must have an active account with Dominion Energy.
• Household income cannot exceed 150% of the Federal Poverty Level. Visit the Virginia Department of Social Services website for income limit information.

How to Apply

PIPP applications and eligibility are managed by the Virginia Department of Social Services year-round. Applications are accepted:

• Option 1: Online by visiting commonhelp.virginia.gov
• Option 2: In-person or by mail or fax through your local Department of Social Services
  • Download the PIPP Application | English Version | En español

Your first PIPP payment is due when your account is enrolled in PIPP. If you are unable to pay at enrollment, the missed PIPP payment will be added to your next bill.

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 1.5% 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.

DISCONTINUANCE OF ELECTRIC SERVICE

1. The Company reserves the right to discontinue Electric Service to a Customer, at any time without notice, upon the occurrence of any one or more of the following events:
   1. Whenever in the Company’s opinion, the Company, has reasonable cause to believe that the Customer is receiving Electric Service without paying therefore, or that the Company’s meter, wires or other apparatus have in any manner been tampered with, or damaged in such a way as to prevent the meter from recording under seal the amount of Electric Service delivered.
   2. Whenever, in the Company's opinion, the condition of the Customer's wiring, equipment, or appliances is either unsafe or unsuitable for receiving Electric Service, or when the Customer's use of Electric Service or equipment interferes with or may be detrimental to the Company’s facilities or to the provision of Electric Service by the Company to any other Customer.
   3. Where electricity is being furnished over a line which is not owned or leased by the Company, whenever in the Company’s opinion such line is either not in a safe and suitable condition or is inadequate to receive Electric Service.
2. Upon the occurrence of either one or all of the following events, the Company reserves the right to discontinue Electric Service to a Customer after ten (10) days notice of discontinuance, in accordance with Paragraph XVI.E., below:
   1. For nonpayment of a past due bill, regardless of any amount of money on deposit with the Company. Residential disconnections for non-payment shall not be worked during the following conditions:
      1. The temperature is forecasted to be 92 degrees Fahrenheit or higher within the 24-hour period following the scheduled disconnect.
      2. The temperature is forecasted to be 32 degrees Fahrenheit or lower within the 24-hour period following the scheduled disconnect.
      3. On Fridays, weekends, state holidays, or on the business day prior to a state holiday.
   2. For failure to comply with any of the Company's Terms and Conditions as filed with the Commission, or with any of the conditions or obligations of any agreement with the Company for the provision of Electric Service;
   3. Whenever in the opinion of the Company it is necessary to prevent fraud upon the Company.
   4. Whenever the Customer has denied a Company representative access to the Company's meter, wires or other apparatus installed on the Customer's premises.
3. The Company will discontinue Electric Service to a Customer whenever requested by any public authority having jurisdiction.
4. The Company reserves the right to discontinue Electric Service under any of the above conditions irrespective of any claims of a Customer pending against the Company, or any amounts of money on deposit with the Company as required by Section IX of these Terms and Conditions.
5. Notice of discontinuance shall be considered to be given a Customer when copy of such notice is left with the Customer, left at the premise where the Customer's bill is rendered, or posted in the United States mail ten (10) days prior to the date of pending disconnection. The company shall address all mailed correspondence to the Customer's last post office mailing address, as shown on the records of the Company. In addition to the written notice of disconnection, as described above, the Company shall provide a Customer who has chosen to receive electronic billing an additional electronic notice of disconnection ten (10) days prior to the date of pending disconnection with the Customer's electronic bill.
6. Whenever Electric Service is discontinued in accordance herewith, the Company shall not be liable for any damages, direct or indirect, that may result from such discontinuance. In all cases where Electric Service is disconnected by reason of violation by the Customer of any of the provisions hereof or of any agreement with the Company for the provision of Electric Service, there shall then become due and payable, in addition to the bills in default, an amount equal to the monthly minimum charge for the unexpired term of the agreement, not as a penalty, but in lieu of the income reasonably to be expected during the unexpired term of the agreement.

RECONNECTION OF ELECTRIC SERVICE

1. If Electric Service has been discontinued for any of the reasons covered in Section XVI – Discontinuance of Electric Service, the Company shall have a reasonable period of time in which to reconnect the Customer's service after the conditions causing discontinuance shall have been corrected.
2. If Electric Service has been discontinued because of improper use, or if, in the Company's opinion, its meter or wires or other apparatus have been tampered with, the Company may refuse to reconnect the Customer's service until the Customer shall have:
   1. Paid all delinquent bills,
   2. Paid to the Company an amount estimated by the Company to be sufficient to cover all components of Electric Service used but not recorded by the meter and not previously paid for, and;
   3. Made such changes in wiring or equipment as may in the opinion of the Company be proper for its protection.
3. If Electric Service has been discontinued by the Company at the request of any public authority having jurisdiction, the Customer's service will not be reconnected until authorization to do so has been obtained by said public authority.
4. When it is necessary to reconnect Electric Service, which has been discontinued for any reasons covered by Section XVI – Discontinuance of Electric Service, a service charge as described below will apply:
   1. Residential customers with Smart Meter (AMI): $6.82
   2. Residential customers without Smart Meter (AMI): $34.64
   3. Non-Residential customers: $25.15
5. When the Company requires past-due balances to be paid prior to reconnection, the Company may further require such payments to be made by cash, certified check, cashier's check, electronic debit, or money order at a Company designated payment location when, during the previous twelve months, either of the events below have occurred:
   1. The Customer's Electric Services has been disconnected due to non-payment of any bill for Electric Service.
   2. The Customer has attempted to make payment by a check, draft, or electronic debit tendered or authorized on the Customer's account and returned for insufficient or uncollected funds, closed account, revoked authorization, stop payment or other similar reason.