Burnet County Texas Electric Bill Assistance Program Resources

Finding a Burnet County Texas electric bill assistance program can be a stressful process, especially when facing a disconnection. Residents of Burnet, Marble Falls, Bertram, and other communities have access to several different types of financial help. This information outlines the specific state and federal programs, local community resources, and direct utility provider options available to help low-income households and residents experiencing financial hardship pay their energy bills.

Your First Call: Contact Your Electric Utility Provider

The most immediate step for any resident facing difficulty is to contact their electric utility provider directly. The assistance options available depend entirely on which company provides electricity to the home, as Burnet County is served by a mix of electric cooperatives and municipal utilities. These providers can offer payment extensions or specialized plans that are separate from state or federal aid.

For Pedernales Electric Cooperative (PEC) Members

Pedernales Electric Cooperative (PEC) offers a dedicated PEC Member Assistance Program to help qualifying members with their electric bills. This program provides direct financial assistance, a crucial point of support for those in need.

Key details of the PEC Member Assistance Program:

• Financial Aid: The program offers up to $300 per calendar year to qualifying members.
• Usage: This assistance is designated for current account usage and billing only.
• Funding Source: PEC earmarks its own funds for this program and partners with area agencies to match contributions to members in need.

It is important to understand that this $300 assistance is an internal PEC program and is separate from the state-funded CEAP program. Even if a member does not qualify for this specific program or has already reached the annual limit, PEC staff may still be able to refer them to agencies managing state CEAP funds.

Additionally, PEC offers payment plans to help members manage costs, including a Fixed Payment Plan and an Average Payment Plan, as well as a "Pay as you go" prepaid option.

For Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative Members

Members of the Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative should contact member services immediately if they are struggling to pay their bill. Bluebonnet’s primary support mechanism is offering payment arrangements to avoid disconnection.

Available options include:

• Payment Extensions: Members can request a payment extension online or by contacting a member services representative.
• Deferred Payment Plans: These plans allow members to pay an outstanding bill after its due date, but before the next bill is due.
• Direct Contact: The first step is to call 800-842-7708 to speak with a member service representative about these options.

Bluebonnet also refers members to state CEAP providers for financial aid and promotes the Texas Weatherization Assistance Program to help members make their homes more energy-efficient and lower bills long-term.

For City of Burnet Utility Customers

Residents who live within the city limits of Burnet receive their electricity directly from the City of Burnet public utility. The city's assistance programs are often structured differently from cooperative or state programs.

Key details for City of Burnet customers:

• Hardship Extensions: Customers facing a hardship or emergency may apply for a payment extension.
• Critical Deadline: Extension applications must be submitted to City Hall by 5 p.m. on the last day of the month. After this time, no more extensions are accepted.
• Event-Driven Assistance: The City of Burnet has historically established temporary utility assistance programs by City Council resolution in response to specific local disasters, such as floods or the COVID-19 pandemic. These programs are not always active.

Residents should call the City of Burnet utility office at (512) 756-6093  to inquire about an extension or to determine if any temporary payment assistance programs are currently funded and active.

State & Federal Aid: The Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program (CEAP)

The primary source of federal financial aid for utility bills is the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). In Texas, LIHEAP funds are distributed by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) through the Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program (CEAP). CEAP is designed to help low-income households meet their immediate energy needs and control future costs.

Opportunities for Williamson and Burnet Counties (OWBC): Your Local Administrator

State and federal funds are not paid directly to individuals. Instead, the TDHCA distributes CEAP funds to local "subrecipients," which are community action agencies that manage the application and distribution process.

For all residents of Burnet County, the designated subrecipient for the CEAP program is Opportunities for Williamson and Burnet Counties (OWBC). All applications for state utility assistance must go through this single agency.

OWBC Application Status and Process

Opportunities for Williamson and Burnet Counties (OWBC) often has a waiting list or must temporarily stop accepting new applications when federal funds are depleted. The agency’s website (owbc-tx.org) will state if applications are currently being accepted. Residents are encouraged to check the website regularly for updates.

When applications are open, applicants must meet several pre-screening qualifications. Be prepared to provide:

• Proof of residence in Williamson or Burnet County.
• Verification of household income for the last 30 days for all residents 18 years and older.
• A copy of the energy bill (electricity, natural gas, or propane).
• Proof that the applicant is the account holder or an authorized user on the utility account.
• Proof of citizenship and ID for at least one household member.

OWBC Contact and Location Information

Residents can contact OWBC for more information on application status or the process.

• Main Phone: (512) 763-1400  or (512) 255-2202.
• Main Office: 604 High Tech Drive, Georgetown, TX 78626.
• Email: utilities@owbc-tx.org.

OWBC provides services through local offices, which may be referred to as the Burnet Neighborhood Center  or the Marble Falls Community Resource Center.

It is important to note that this "Marble Falls Community Resource Center" associated with OWBC and its CEAP program is a separate entity from the "Community Resource Centers of Texas" (CRCTexas). CRCTexas is a different nonprofit organization located at 1016 Broadway in Marble Falls.

Burnet County Local & Community Assistance (The "Safety Net")

When the primary CEAP program administered by OWBC is not accepting applications, a local safety net of non-profit and faith-based organizations may be able to provide emergency assistance. Funding for these programs can be limited and is often segmented by geography (ZIP code) or demographics (seniors, veterans).

For Seniors (55+) in Burnet County

The Community Resource Centers of Texas (CRC Texas), a non-profit organization, operates an Older Adult Rural Services (OARS) program. This program is specifically designed to advocate for and assist the 55+ population in Burnet, Blanco, and Llano counties. The OARS program explicitly lists utilities assistance as one of its available services.

• Location: 1016 Broadway, Marble Falls, TX 78654.
• Phone: 830-693-0700.

For Residents in Marble Falls (ZIP 78654) & Horseshoe Bay (ZIP 78657)

Assistance in the southern part of Burnet County is highly localized.

• Marble Falls Helping Center: This organization provides limited financial assistance to individuals and families. Its service area is strictly defined: it assists residents within the ZIP code of 78654.
• Location: 1016 Broadway, Marble Falls, TX 78654.
• Phone: 830-693-5689.
• Society of St. Vincent de Paul: This faith-based organization offers one-time emergency financial assistance for utilities. The local "conference" chapter, based at St. John / St. Paul Catholic Churches, serves residents in ZIP codes 78654 (Marble Falls) and 78657 (Horseshoe Bay), regardless of their religious affiliation.
• Assistance Line: (512) 755-3299.

For Veterans in Burnet County

Catholic Charities of Central Texas serves veterans and their families across a 25-county region that includes Burnet County. Their St. Michael's Veteran Services program provides tools to overcome life challenges, including "short-term financial assistance" for "Utilities (water, gas, and electric)".

For All Burnet County Residents

The Salvation Army provides a range of emergency services, which may include utility assistance, through its Service Extension program. Burnet County is served by the Burnet County TX (Burnet) Service Unit.

• Contact Number: (512) 843-8421.

Statewide Referral Hotlines and Portals

Navigating these various programs can be confusing, especially since funding changes frequently. The following statewide resources act as central hubs to direct residents to agencies that currently have assistance funds available.

2-1-1 Texas: Your Best Starting Point

If you are seeking financial assistance, the best place to start is 2-1-1 Texas. This is a free, confidential information and referral service, not a direct provider of funds. 2-1-1 specialists maintain the most up-to-date database of services from thousands of local agencies  and can tell which organizations in or near Burnet County currently have funds for utility assistance.

To contact 2-1-1 Texas:

• Phone: Dial 2-1-1 or (877) 541-7905.
• Website: Visit 211texas.org.

TDHCA Help for Texans Portal

The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) maintains an official online database called Help for Texans. Residents can use this portal to search for "Utility Bill Payment Help" by city or county. This tool serves as the official verification of the designated CEAP provider for any Texas county. 

STATUS UPDATE: TexasUtilityHelp.com

The TexasUtilityHelp.com website, which was a statewide portal for utility assistance established during the pandemic, is CLOSED. This program is no longer accepting new applications. Residents should not attempt to apply through this defunct portal. Instead, they must use the official TDHCA Help for Texans portal  or call 2-1-1 Texas to find the correct, active local provider.

Assistance from Major Texas Retail Energy Providers

For residents in deregulated parts of Burnet County who purchase electricity from a Retail Electric Provider (REP), many of the largest providers offer their own charitable assistance programs. These programs are typically funded by customer and employee contributions and are administered by local partner agencies.

• TXU Energy AidSM: This program provides financial assistance to thousands of Texas families in need. TXU customers should call 2-1-1 or visit 211texas.org to find the local partner agency in the Burnet County area that is responsible for distributing TXU Energy Aid funds.
• Reliant Energy CARE Program: Reliant’s community-based program assists customers facing extreme hardship. Similar to other providers, customers must call 2-1-1 to locate the specific local agencies that have been allocated CARE program funding.
• Ambit Energy Aid: Ambit Energy also works with local partner agencies to help families in need. Customers can be referred to a partner agency by visiting 211texas.org or by emailing energyaid@ambitenergy.com. Ambit also offers internal payment extensions and deferred payment plans.

Frequently Asked Questions