Program information checked October 6, 2026. This independent guide does not accept applications or award benefits.
Get help with a Delaware energy bill
The Delaware Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) administers DEAP, the Delaware Energy Assistance Program, using LIHEAP funding. Eligible homeowners and renters can seek heating, cooling, or crisis assistance. Apply through the state’s ASSIST portal or contact a participating agency.
DEAP and DEHAP are different programs
Use DEAP for energy-assistance inquiries. DEHAP was Delaware’s pandemic housing-assistance program. The state’s December 2022 announcement closed DEHAP to new applications on January 2, 2023. That historical application route should not serve as your starting point for DEAP.
Correction: an earlier version of this guide described DEHAP under the DEAP URL. This revision separates the programs and replaces the old housing-portal application links.
Choose the help that matches your situation
Heating costs
DHSS lists winter heating assistance from October 1 through March 31 for eligible household energy costs.
Energy emergency
Ask about year-round crisis assistance if you face a shutoff, past-due bills, or low heating fuel.
Cooling costs
Ask the agency about summer cooling assistance and its prior-LIHEAP-application requirement.
Home efficiency
For insulation and other approved improvements, follow the separate Delaware weatherization application process.
Check eligibility with the agency
DHSS publishes an income ceiling of 60% of Delaware’s State Median Income after federal and local taxes. Ask the intake worker for the current household-size limit and the documents they accept. Do not use a DEHAP rental-assistance income table to decide whether to apply for DEAP.
Ask about separate efficiency services if your home loses heat through drafts. Our guide to weatherization explains the kinds of improvements to discuss with a provider.
Contact the right office
DHSS lists these Catholic Charities contacts: New Castle County, 302-654-9295; Kent County, 302-674-1782; Sussex County, 302-856-6310.
You can also use the official ASSIST portal, which lists LIHEAP among its benefit applications. Check the site’s address before entering income, identity, or account information.
Prepare before you call
As a practical checklist, keep your latest bill, account number, household-income records, and any disconnect notice beside you. Ask the worker which records they require; this checklist is not a substitute for the agency’s application instructions.
- Explain whether you need seasonal help, reconnection, or help preventing a shutoff.
- Read out the disconnect date, if you have one. Ask how the agency handles urgent cases.
- Write down your application reference and the next follow-up date.
- Call your utility about a payment arrangement while the agency reviews your application. Ask the utility to confirm any hold on disconnection.
Read our guide to managing utility bills for budgeting steps. Our utility assistance FAQs explain common application questions.
Frequently asked questions
Is DEAP the same as DEHAP?
No. DEAP is Delaware’s energy-assistance program. DEHAP was a separate pandemic housing-assistance program; the state announced its closure to new applications effective January 2, 2023.
Should I wait for an application decision before calling my utility?
Contact the utility if you cannot meet the bill deadline. Ask about a payment arrangement and whether it has confirmed any disconnection hold. An application alone is not confirmation of a hold.
Start with the official energy-assistance route
Use the Delaware ASSIST portal or call the county contact above. Keep copies of what you submit and record the follow-up instructions.