RICHMOND, Va. – The deadline is fast-approaching to apply for heating assistance for the winter of 2024-2025.

The Virginia Department of Social Services is once again offering to pay heating bills for low income households. For those who have heat fueled by electricity, that means your entire electric bill can be covered this winter.

The Virginia Energy Assistance Program (EAP) assists low-income households with fuel and heating assistance.

To be eligible, residents must have a heating expense and gross monthly income not exceeding 150 percent of the federal poverty level.

Applications for assistance are accepted at the local departments of social services. Applications can be submitted in-person, by mail (USPS), or by fax.

The application deadline is November 8, 2024 at 5 p.m.

Customers may apply in one of three ways:

Option 1: Screen for eligibility and/or apply online through the CommonHelp website

Option 2: Call the Enterprise Customer Service Center at 855-635-4370 Monday – Friday 7 a.m. – 6 p.m. to apply by phone.

Option 3: Submit an application manually. Print the appropriate application below (just three pages), fill it out and return it to your local department of social services in person:

Fuel Assistance Application (printable PDF)

Once approved, payments are submitted in a lump sum to respective utility companies.

For example, if an eligible Shenandoah Valley Electric Cooperative (SVEC) customer is eligible for $500 in heating assistance, that amount is forwarded directly to the SVEC – to cover several months of electric bills.

The customer will still receive a statement each month, but the monthly amount due will show as “paid.” This will continue, monthly – until the $500 is exhausted.

Those awarded assistance funds should expect notification of their eligibility by late December.