Utility Assistance Programs in Fort Worth, TX: 2026 Guide to CEAP, Atmos, and Water Bill Help

Utility Costs in Fort Worth: Hot Summers, Limited Relief Windows

Fort Worth sits squarely in the North Texas heat corridor, regularly seeing July and August temperatures above 100°F. For working families, seniors on fixed incomes, and households recovering from recent economic pressures, that heat translates directly into higher electric bills each summer — and utility assistance programs that can run through their funding before summer even peaks.

Fort Worth’s utility relief landscape is shaped by two key facts. First, Oncor is the electric transmission and distribution company for most of the metro — residents choose their own retail electric provider (TXU, Reliant, Gexa, and dozens of others). Second, the Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program (CEAP) in Tarrant County is administered not by the county government but by Community Action Partners (CAP), a division of the City of Fort Worth’s Neighborhood Services Department, which runs its intake on a distinctive calendar-based online application window that requires advance planning — a structure that sets it apart from how neighboring Texas counties run their own CEAP programs.

Fort Worth Utility Assistance Programs at a Glance

CEAP in Fort Worth: Community Action Partners (CAP)

The Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program (CEAP) in Tarrant County is administered by Community Action Partners (CAP), a division of the City of Fort Worth’s Neighborhood Services Department. CAP serves as the official Community Action Agency for all of Tarrant County, covering electric, gas, and propane bills through federal LIHEAP funding channeled through the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA), plus Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) funding for broader case-management services.

What CEAP Covers

• Utility assistance: Up to $1,800 per household per program year (electric, gas, and/or propane)
• Crisis assistance: Up to $1,800 for emergencies — imminent disconnection or health/safety risk
• Heating/cooling equipment: Up to $9,000 for HVAC repair or replacement
• Maximum total benefit: Up to $12,600 per household per program year

Eligibility

Household gross income must be at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Income Guidelines (FPIG). For 2026 (effective January 26, 2026):

Federal LIHEAP rules direct outreach priority toward elderly and disabled residents and households with children age 5 or younger. Applications are processed in the order received once submitted.

How to Apply — Fort Worth’s Unique Intake Calendar

Fort Worth’s CAP program uses a calendar-based online application window that opens at 9:00 a.m. every other Friday through September. The 2026 schedule includes openings on August 7, August 21, September 4, and September 18. Applications can close within hours of opening. Additional dates and any schedule changes are posted at fortworthtexas.gov/departments/neighborhoods/cap.

You can also apply at in-person application events, but these require advance appointments — CAP offices do not accept walk-ins. Upcoming events and appointment links are posted on the CAP website, typically the week before each event.

To prepare your application, gather: government-issued photo ID, proof of U.S. citizenship or legal residency for all household members, Social Security cards, proof of income for the prior 30 days, and current electric and gas bills. The CAP office is located at 818 Missouri Avenue, Suite 245, Fort Worth, TX 76104. Phone: (817) 392-2276 for general questions about CAP services and upcoming application opportunities (call volume is high, so expect wait times).

Additional Fort Worth Utility Assistance Programs

Fort Worth Water — Bill Assistance Program

CEAP covers electric, gas, and propane, but not water. Fort Worth Water’s Bill Assistance Program can arrange a payment plan for past-due water and wastewater bills — call the Water Contact Center at 817-392-4477 (7 a.m.–7 p.m. weekdays) to discuss options. The utility can also refer eligible customers to community organizations that decide independently whether to help pay a bill; there is no fixed statewide dollar benefit for water assistance the way there is for CEAP. If a leak is driving up your bill, the SmartRepair program provides free repair of minor plumbing leaks (running toilets, dripping faucets, leaking pipe joints) for income-qualified low-income homeowners, up to $3,000 in repairs over a lifetime. Call 817-392-8740 to request an income-verification packet. Note that CAP’s own dedicated water-utility payment-assistance fund is not consistently available year-round — check current status at intake.

Atmos Energy — Sharing the Warmth (Gas Bill Relief)

If your natural gas provider is Atmos Energy, you may qualify for their Sharing the Warmth program, which combines customer donations with company contributions and distributes assistance through local partner agencies to eligible residential customers, with priority often given to elderly, disabled, veteran, and low-income households. Use Atmos’s online agency locator or dial 2-1-1 to find the current partner agency serving your Fort Worth zip code. For billing questions or installment plans, call Atmos customer service at 888-286-6700 (Mon–Fri, business hours).

Salvation Army of North Texas — Emergency Assistance

When CEAP funds are exhausted and the next CAP application window is days away, the Salvation Army of North Texas can provide emergency assistance to Fort Worth-area households facing eviction or utility disconnection, including up to one month of rent, mortgage, or energy-bill payment help for eligible applicants. Call the Fort Worth Emergency Family Services Hotline at 817-344-1800. Funds are limited and availability varies by season.

Catholic Charities Diocese of Fort Worth

Catholic Charities Diocese of Fort Worth provides emergency financial assistance, including utility bill help, to eligible Tarrant County residents, subject to available funds. Call their intake line at 817-534-0814. Eligibility generally requires income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level and a documented financial crisis within the prior 180 days; exact requirements are confirmed at intake.

Fort Worth Utility Assistance Programs Compared

Editorial Team Tip: Fort Worth’s CAP application window is the most time-sensitive element in the city’s utility assistance ecosystem. Set a recurring Friday calendar reminder for 8:50 a.m. and have fortworthtexas.gov/departments/neighborhoods/cap loaded in your browser before 9 a.m. on the next opening date. Application portals fill within hours. While you wait for the next Friday window, call Fort Worth Water’s Bill Assistance line at 817-392-4477 about your water bill separately — different funding, no need to wait for a Friday window — and dial 2-1-1 to find any agencies with current CEAP sub-allocations or emergency utility funds that don’t have the Friday-only constraint.

How to Apply: Step-by-Step for Fort Worth Residents

Step 1: Know the CAP Calendar

Find the next Friday application window at fortworthtexas.gov/departments/neighborhoods/cap. Bookmark the site and set a calendar reminder for 8:50 a.m. the night before so you’re ready. The 2026 schedule runs through September, with openings every other Friday at 9 a.m.

Step 2: Gather Your Documents in Advance

Government-issued photo ID, Social Security cards for all household members, proof of U.S. citizenship or legal residency, proof of income for the past 30 days, and current electric and gas bills. Incomplete applications may not be accepted or may delay processing.

Step 3: Apply for CEAP Online at 9:00 a.m. Friday

On the opening date, navigate to the CAP online portal and submit your application as quickly as possible. If you have questions about services or upcoming application opportunities, call (817) 392-2276.

Step 4: Contact Fort Worth Water About Your Bill (No Calendar Restriction)

Call 817-392-4477 today — there is no Friday-only window for water bill help. A representative can discuss a payment plan, refer you to a community organization, or, if a leak is inflating your bill, start the SmartRepair process. You can pursue this at the same time as your CEAP application.

Step 5: Ask About Disconnection Protection While You Wait

Texas Public Utility Commission rules protect customers from disconnection for nonpayment if an energy assistance provider — such as CAP — has notified your retail electric provider (TXU, Reliant, etc.) by the due date on your disconnection notice that they are processing your assistance application. If you receive a disconnection notice while your CEAP application is pending, contact CAP promptly so they can notify your provider on your behalf.

Beyond Bill Payment: Weatherization in Fort Worth

Texas’s Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) provides free energy-efficiency upgrades — insulation, air sealing, HVAC improvements — to income-qualified Fort Worth homeowners and renters through CAP and other local community action agencies. Learn more about the Texas Weatherization Assistance Program and see if your household qualifies. Reducing your energy use long-term is the most durable form of bill relief. Visit our knowledge center for energy-saving tips tailored to Texas’s climate.

Fort Worth Utility Assistance FAQ