Financial Assistance

Matching Payment Program
NUSTART
Connecticut Energy Assistance Program (CEAP)
Veterans
Operation Fuel
Contribute to Add-a-Dollar Program
Food and Fuel Banks

Matching Payment Program

CL&P's new Matching Payment Program provides year-round electric service and possible forgiveness of back balances to low-income electric heating customers who have past-due balances.

Here's what eligible electric heating customers must do to be part of CL&P's Matching Payment Program:

• Apply for energy assistance by calling 2-1-1 or contacting your local community action agency.
• Enroll in CL&P's new Matching Payment Program and have energy assistance funds applied to your CL&P account.
• Make and keep a monthly payment arrangement.

Customers who maintain eligibility under the Matching Payment Program will see an additional reduction in their past-due amount for every dollar paid to CL&P. For more information, contact the Matching Payment Program team at 1.800.286.2828 (860.947.2828 in the Hartford and Meriden calling areas).

NUSTART

NUSTART is CL&P's program designed to give a fresh start to low-income customers whose income is below 200% of the federal poverty level and have a past-due balance of $100 or more on a CL&P bill. Through NUSTART, customers can reduce or eliminate their past-due balance if they pay an agreed-upon budgeted amount on time each month. For more details, click here.

Connecticut Energy Assistance Program (CEAP)

The federally-funded Connecticut Energy Assistance Program (CEAP) is designed to help low-income households (individuals and families) pay their winter heating bills. CEAP is not designed to pay total heating costs. Households must plan to pay a part of the bill themselves.

If you are a CL&P customer, electricity is your primary source of heat and you qualify for the program, CEAP will pay part of your winter electric heating bills directly to CL&P. (If electric heat is included in the rent, CEAP will send you payments towards the rent.)

Applications for CEAP are handled by the local Community Action Agency (CAA). The application period for winter fuel assistance begins in October. Benefits are available only until funds run out. It is important to apply early to maximize the possibility of receiving the benefits of this program. Call the Department of Social Services (DSS) at 1-800-842-1132, or INFOLINE at 2-1-1 to find the nearest location to apply.

Other Income Assistance Programs

Veterans

The Soldiers', Sailors' and Marines' Fund provides limited assistance to veterans who are residents of Connecticut, spouses living with the veteran at the time of the veteran's death, and dependent children under age 18. For more information on program eligibility and benefits, contact the Fund at (860) 953-4345.

Operation Fuel

Operation Fuel is a private, nonprofit energy assistance program for people who need emergency help with energy bills and are not eligible for, or have exhausted, state or federal assistance. Most eligible households have incomes between 151% and 200% of the federal poverty level. The maximum available Operation Fuel assistance is $500 per household during the heating season. Payments are made directly to the company that supplies the household with the heating or utility services.

To apply for Operation Fuel funds, contact the fuel bank in your area for an appointment. For more information, or to find out the name of the fuel bank nearest you, call INFOLINE at 2-1-1. Operation Fuel is funded in part by the Add-a-Dollar program.

Contribute to Add-a-Dollar Program

By adding a donation to your CL&P bill, you can help Connecticut residents who are struggling to keep warm this winter.

Chances are, they're a lot like you, but they're experiencing a temporary crisis which has left them without enough money to heat their homes or keep their lights on. Many don't qualify for other assistance programs.

When you add a donation to your CL&P bill, we'll match it with a 50 cent contribution through a special community contribution fund (up to the first $300,000 in customer contributions). Monthly contributions of more than $10 must be made by separate check, payable to Operation Fuel. We'll forward all contributions directly to Operation Fuel, which distributes warmth throughout Connecticut via a statewide network of fuel banks.

Please consider participating in the pledge program, "Add-a-Dollar", and make this winter a warmer one for someone in need. To participate, complete the Add-a-Dollar Sign-up Form [PDF:52 KB] and fax or mail it to us. Or you may call us at 1-866-855-8686. We'll automatically add the selected dollar amount to your CL&P bill each month as an Operation Fuel contribution. (You can ignore the charge and/or have it removed from your bill whenever you choose.)

Every dollar you contribute is tax-deductible and 100 percent of all Add-a-Dollar donations are used for energy assistance grants.

Food and Fuel Banks

There are many food pantries and soup kitchens available throughout the state to help needy individuals and families. To learn more about food pantries and soup kitchens in the state, and their hours of operation, contact INFOLINE at 2-1-1.