How to Get Utility Assistance in Philadelphia, PA: 2026 LIHEAP, PECO & PGW Guide

Why Utility Assistance Programs in Philadelphia Matter in 2026

Philadelphia’s rowhome-heavy housing stock and aging gas infrastructure make winter heating bills a genuine strain for many households, while humid summers push electric bills up right alongside them. Add rising water and sewer rates, and a Philadelphia household can be juggling three separate utility bills — electric, gas, and water — each with its own shutoff risk after just one missed payment.

Philadelphia is unusual among the pilot cities in this guide: it has a dedicated hardship program for each of its three major utilities, on top of the standard state LIHEAP grant and a citywide emergency fund. This guide covers every current, verifiable program available to Philadelphia residents in 2026 — real phone numbers, benefit amounts, and eligibility rules for PECO’s electric program, PGW’s gas program, and Philadelphia Water’s water program — and exactly how to apply to each.

Key Utility Assistance Programs in Philadelphia at a Glance

Pennsylvania LIHEAP: The Foundation Program for Philadelphia

LIHEAP, run by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, is the base-layer program every Philadelphia household should check first, even though its main cash-grant window is currently closed. Philadelphia also has its own dedicated LIHEAP Intake Office, plus PGW-run Neighborhood Energy Centers that take LIHEAP paperwork in person.

What LIHEAP covers

• Cash grants: a one-time payment sent directly to your utility or fuel provider
• Crisis grants: emergency help for a heating-equipment breakdown, low fuel supply, or termination risk, arriving within 10 business days (sooner if life-threatening)
• Local intake: apply through the dedicated LIHEAP Intake Office at 1163 S. Broad St., or any PGW Neighborhood Energy Center

2026 benefit amounts

LIHEAP cash grants range from $200 to $1,000 depending on household size, income, and heating-fuel type. The published DHS income guideline is $23,940 a year for one person and $49,500 for a household of four, with about $8,520 added per additional member — roughly $32,460 for two people.

How the application cycle works

The 2025-2026 LIHEAP season ran December 3, 2025 through May 8, 2026 and is now closed; PGW’s customer page states the next season opens in November 2026. Apply through COMPASS online, the statewide LIHEAP Hotline at 1-866-857-7095, or Philadelphia’s LIHEAP Intake Office at 215-560-1583. Don’t wait for LIHEAP to reopen — UESF, PECO CAP, PGW CRP, and Philadelphia Water TAP all accept applications year-round meanwhile.

Other Utility Assistance Programs in Philadelphia Beyond LIHEAP

Utility Emergency Services Fund (UESF): electric and water grants

UESF is a Philadelphia nonprofit at 743 N. 24th St. that stabilizes households facing a utility crisis, with two distinct grant tracks: a PECO electric grant, capped at $1,250, for households at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Level, available once every 12 months; and a Philadelphia Water grant, capped at $3,000, for households at or below 300% of the Federal Poverty Level, available once every 24 months. UESF does not run a gas-specific grant — PGW customers use PGW’s own Hardship Fund Grant instead (below). Reach UESF at 215-972-5170.

PECO Customer Assistance Program: electric

PECO’s Customer Assistance Program, formally the Customer Assistance Program – Percentage of Income Payment Plan (CAP-PIPP), sets a fixed monthly electric bill based on a percentage of household income rather than usage, for households at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Level. Customers pay whichever is less — the CAP-PIPP amount or actual usage charges — subject to a minimum bill of $10 (electric) or $20 (electric heating). First-time enrollees can have past-due balances forgiven; customers re-enroll every two years. Call 1-800-675-0222 to apply, or 1-800-494-4000 for general PECO service.

PGW Customer Responsibility Program and Hardship Fund: gas

PGW runs two separate gas-assistance programs. The Customer Responsibility Program (CRP) sets a monthly bill based on household size, income, and the home’s average gas bill, for households at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Level; qualifying customers can cut their bill by more than half, pay just $5 toward pre-program arrears, and see the rest forgiven while in good standing. Separately, PGW’s Hardship Fund Grant pays up to $1,500 for customers at or below 175% of the Federal Poverty Level facing a termination notice or already without gas service, available once every 24 months. Call 215-235-1000 to apply for CRP; the Hardship Fund Grant requires an in-person application at a Neighborhood Energy Center.

Philadelphia Water Tiered Assistance Program: water

TAP caps a household’s water bill at 2% to 4% of monthly income for households at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Level (about $3,075 a month for a family of four), or above that line with a documented special hardship such as a health emergency, childbirth, or domestic violence. Customers do not need to be behind on their bill to enroll, and past-due amounts are suspended while enrolled. A City Council measure to expand eligibility to 150%–200% FPL had cleared committee as of mid-2026 but was not yet enacted. Apply online at cap.phila.gov, by mail, or in person with help from Community Legal Services, the Energy Coordinating Agency, UESF, or a Neighborhood Energy Center. Call 215-685-6300 with questions.

Comparing Top Utility Assistance Programs in Philadelphia

Editorial Team’s Pro Tip

Don’t wait for LIHEAP’s November 2026 reopening — PECO CAP, PGW CRP, PGW’s Hardship Fund Grant, Philadelphia Water TAP, and UESF’s electric and water grants all take applications year-round. Track your reapplication windows: UESF’s PECO grant resets every 12 months, but its water grant and PGW’s Hardship Fund Grant only reset every 24 months, so calling too soon means a wasted trip. Juggling all three bills? Call UESF first at 215-972-5170 — it covers electric and water at once — then handle PGW separately, since UESF doesn’t cover gas.

— Editorial Team, UtilityAssistanceOnline

How to Apply for Utility Assistance Programs in Philadelphia

Step 1: Confirm your eligibility

Each program sets its own income line, but most Philadelphia programs cluster around 150% of the Federal Poverty Level. LIHEAP’s published guideline is $23,940 a year for one person, about $32,460 for two people, and $49,500 for a family of four. UESF’s PECO and water grants use two different ceilings (150% and 300% FPL), and PGW’s Hardship Fund Grant uses 175% FPL — check the specific program rather than assuming one number covers all of them.

Step 2: Gather required documentation

• Photo ID for the head of household
• Social Security numbers for all household members
• Proof of gross household income (check your specific program’s application for its required documentation period)
• Your most recent PECO, PGW, or Philadelphia Water bill, including your account number
• Proof of Philadelphia residency (lease, deed, or utility bill at your address)
• If applying for a crisis or hardship grant: a termination notice or documentation of the emergency

Step 3: Apply through your primary channel

For LIHEAP, apply through COMPASS online, call 1-866-857-7095, or visit Philadelphia’s LIHEAP Intake Office at 1163 S. Broad St. (215-560-1583). For UESF, call 215-972-5170 or submit an online inquiry form for the PECO or Philadelphia Water grant. For PECO CAP, call 1-800-675-0222. For PGW CRP or the Hardship Fund Grant, call 215-235-1000 or visit a Neighborhood Energy Center. For Philadelphia Water TAP, apply at cap.phila.gov or call 215-685-6300.

Step 4: Apply to backup channels in parallel

Don’t wait for one agency to respond before pursuing others. A Philadelphia household can apply to PECO CAP, PGW CRP, and Philadelphia Water TAP all at the same time — separate applications with separate outcomes. Add a UESF grant on top if you’re facing an active shutoff, and dial 211 to check which nonprofit or faith-based funds currently have open funding in your neighborhood.

Step 5: Track and follow up

Write down the date, agency name, and any confirmation number every time you call. LIHEAP and UESF benefits are paid directly to your utility account, not to you. If a program tells you it’s between seasons or out of funding, ask exactly when it reopens and set a reminder — a “no” from one program (like LIHEAP right now) doesn’t mean the others aren’t open.

Beyond Bill Payment: Weatherization and Long-Term Savings in Philadelphia

Bill assistance solves this month’s problem. Pairing it with weatherization and daily energy habits keeps next winter’s bill lower to begin with. Philadelphia Water TAP partner agencies include the Energy Coordinating Agency (ECA), the region’s weatherization provider — ask your UESF or Neighborhood Energy Center contact for a referral, since a home energy audit and free upgrades (insulation, air sealing, furnace tune-ups) can lower a PGW gas bill and a PECO electric bill together.

Daily habits matter too. In Philadelphia’s rowhomes, a poorly sealed attic and old windows are common culprits behind a high winter bill; sealing drafts around doors and windows costs little and pays for itself quickly. Lower your thermostat overnight, keep vents and radiators unblocked, and have your PGW furnace serviced before the coldest months. For more no-cost strategies, see our guide to mastering your utility bills and our overview of energy-related home repairs.

Frequently Asked Questions About Utility Assistance Programs in Philadelphia