Energy Assistance Now Available for Qualifying Households

Do you need help paying for winter heating bills? The Low Income Energy Assistance Program is available to eligible households beginning December 1, 2023. Low Income Energy Assistance provides a one-time annual vendor payment to help eligible families pay their heating expenses.?Households containing a person aged 60 or older or disabled receiving services can apply starting December 1, 2023. All households can apply starting January 1, 2024. 

If you are interested in applying online, visit epass.nc.gov.

Buncombe County Health and Human Services will start taking in-person requests at 40 Coxe Ave. in downtown Asheville starting December 1, 2023.  

To qualify for the Low Income Energy Assistance Program, households that meet the following criteria may be eligible: 

• Have at least one U.S. citizen or non-citizen who meets the eligibility criteria. 
• Meet income requirements. 
• Be responsible for its heating costs. 

The Crisis Intervention Program serves individuals and families who are experiencing or are in danger of experiencing a heating- or cooling-related crisis. 

To qualify for the Crisis Intervention Program, households that meet the following criteria may be eligible: 

• Have at least one U.S. citizen or non-citizen who meets the eligibility criteria. 
• Meet the income requirements.  
• Have an energy-related crisis. 
• Have a utility statement that shows how much is owed to alleviate the crisis.? 

For those who have previously received Low Income Energy Assistance Program assistance, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services began notifying eligible households by mail on November 19, 2023.  

If you are interested in applying for these Energy Assistance benefits, you can quickly apply online at epass.nc.gov. If you would like to apply over the phone, have general questions about energy assistance, or need to check the status of your case, please call us at (828) 250-6330. Beginning December 1, 2023, you may also visit us in person at 40 Coxe Ave. in downtown Asheville. Please bring your parking ticket with you inside the building for free parking.  

Low Income Energy Assistance applications are accepted until March 31, 2024 or until funds are exhausted. For more information on these important benefits, visit buncombecounty.org/publicassistance.