The Shadow
Chester, VA – With colder weather approaching, Columbia Gas of Virginia is encouraging customers who need financial assistance with utility bills to apply for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which provides one-time cash grants to qualifying applicants for home heating bills or emergency heating repairs.
• The LIHEAP enrollment period in the Commonwealth opens on Tuesday, Oct. 8, and closes on Friday, Nov. 8.
“Many households in Virginia who are struggling financially may be facing higher energy bills as we head into the winter months, and we want to ensure you have the help you need to keep you and your family warm,” said Columbia Gas of Virginia President and Chief Operating Officer Jennifer Montague. “We’re urging families to apply for LIHEAP as soon as enrollment opens. Eligibility requirements change from year to year, so if you didn’t qualify in the past, you may qualify for assistance now.”
LIHEAP is a federally-funded program administered through the Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) as the Fuel Assistance program. In addition to the one-time cash grants, crisis grants are available to assist income-eligible households without heat or in danger of being without heat.
Customers can apply in multiple ways:
• Online via the Commonwealth of Virginia CommonHelp portal at commonhelp.virginia.gov;
• By calling the VDSS Enterprise Customer Service Center at 1-855-635-4370 Monday to Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.;
• Manually by submitting an application to their local department of social services.
The income eligibility for the 2024 program is 150 percent of the federal poverty income guidelines, meaning that an individual with an annual income of up to $22,590 is eligible to apply and a family of four with an annual income of up to $46,800 can apply.
In addition to LIHEAP Fuel Assistance, Columbia Gas offers other assistance programs such as flexible payment options and budget plans. Qualifying customers may also benefit from the Age and Income qualifying program which provides supplies to help them save energy on water and home heating.
Customers can find out what programs they may qualify for by using our eligibility calculator at www.columbiagasva.com/eligibility-calculator or by calling 1-800-543-8911 to speak with a Columbia Gas representative. Additional information can be found at our Energy Assistance Resource Center at www.columbiagasva.com/energy-assistance-resource-center.
