Need Help Paying Bills?

Housing ServicesEnergy/Utility Program

Need Help Paying Bills? Our Energy/Utility Program helps households meet the financial challenges of increasing energy bills. We can help pay bills for electricity, gas, propane, wood, and oil. Funds are seasonal and depend on availability.

BMAC's Energy/Utility Program helps low-income households maintain power and heating, especially during the winter. Various programs can help households with energy bills, depending on the energy sources in the home.


Emergency energy assistance is also sometimes available through  the Salvation Army. Please reach us with questions by phone, 509-529-4980 or email Sylvia Schaeffer.

Cascade Natural Gas Cares

Cascade Natural Gas (CNG) CARES provides qualifying customers in need of bill payment assistance with a discount on their monthly gas bill, plus help with past due balances, if needed. Program features include:

  • Five tiers of discounts with each tier offering a different discount rate based on the customer’s household income and number of residents in their household.
  • The arrearage relief component offers qualifying customers with past-due balances to receive arrearage relief assistance of up to $1,000.
  • The amount of assistance for past due balances is based on the customer’s income and household size.
  • Assistance levels range from 50%-100% of the past due balance.
  • Time Payment arrangements are available for any remaining balances after the arrearage relief grant is applied.

For a paper application click HERE.

To apply online use you customer account with CNG. Click HERE.

How BMAC Can Help with your energy bills

We serve residents in Columbia, Garfield, and Walla Walla counties.

  • Provide funds to pay current heating bills
  • Give discounts for power or utility bills
  • Provide funds to turn your power back on
  • Share energy saving tips and education
  • Refer for home weatherization and minor home repair

Natural Gas Assistance

and Winter Help Programs

  • A Cascade Natural Gas program for gas-heated homes
  • Assistance is given on a case-by-case basis
  • CALL TO INQUIRE: (509) 529-4980

Power Discounts

LIBA PROGRAM (Pacific Power & Light)

  • This bill discount program helps lower future Pacific Power & Light bills
  • Program participants receive discount for a one-year period, with customers on fixed income enrolled on a two-year period
  • Discount varies between 15%, 35% or 70% of net bill excluding taxes based on income qualification level
  • CALL NOW FOR AN APPOINTMENT: 509-529-4980

Utility Discounts

UTILITY DISCOUNT PROGRAM

  • A discount provided by the City of College Place, and the City of Walla Walla
  • CALL FOR AN APPOINTMENT: 509-529-4980

Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

Energy Assistance (LIHEAP)

  • Help to pay current heating bills
  • All heating sources
  • Appointments are limited
  • LIHEAP policies state that you may only be assisted one time per contract year
  • CALL TO INQUIRE: (509) 529-4980

State Home Energy Assistance Program (S-HEAP)

S-HEAP is supported with funding from Washington's Climate Commitment Act (CCA). This program assists households by:

  • Applying an energy assistance grant directly to the electric company provider on behalf of the eligible household
  • Helping repair or replace unsafe, dysfunctional, and/or inoperative heating and cooling systems
  • To be eligible, a household must not have received assistance through the LIHEAP program between 10/1/2013 - 7/31/2024.
  • CALL TO INQUIRE: (509) 529-4980

“My bills are high in the winter, and if it weren’t for these programs, I wouldn’t make it on my fixed income.”
– Energy Assistance Client

Household Impact

$ 845 – Average benefit for LIBA clients

1,800+ – Families who receive assistance annually

$424 – Average LIHEAP benefit

Contact

energy@bmacww.org

(509) 529-4980

keeping the lights on
keeping the lights on

BMAC Programs

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