Montana Utility Relief Programs: LIHEAP, Energy Share, Utility Discounts, and the Winter Moratorium

How LIHEAP works in Montana

Montana LIHEAP is a grant that pays part of your home heating cost for the year. The money goes to your utility or fuel dealer and shows up as a credit or a delivery. It does not need to be paid back. Montana runs a heating program only; there is no regular summer cooling benefit.

Benefits are larger here than in most states because winters are long and many rural homes heat with propane, fuel oil, wood, or coal. Montana's federal fiscal year 2027 LIHEAP plan lists a minimum benefit of $150 and a maximum of $3,362. Your amount depends on income, household size, fuel type, the type of home, and the number of bedrooms. DPHHS posts a benefit matrix on its energy assistance page if you want to see how the numbers are built.

The state also gives a head start to certain households. Pre-printed applications go out in September to homes that heat with delivered fuels, so they can buy fuel before prices rise. Seniors and people with disabilities on fixed incomes get pre-printed applications in October. If you were approved last year, watch your mail.

Federal money for fiscal 2027 is not final. Most of it was released to states in October 2026 under a short-term budget. Our LIHEAP guide covers how the national program is funded.

Income and resource limits for 2026–27

For households of one to nine people, Montana uses 60% of state median income. Larger households use 150% of the poverty guidelines. These are the yearly limits DPHHS posts on its energy assistance page for the 2026–27 program year:

Resources are things like cash, savings and checking accounts, CDs, stocks, and rental property. DPHHS adds $1,502 for each extra person, up to $31,524 per household. Your home and the car you drive are not on that list, but ask your eligibility office if you are unsure about an asset.

If anyone in your household gets SNAP, SSI, or TANF, DPHHS says you may qualify automatically. Homeowners and renters can both apply.

Applying at an HRDC or tribal office

Montana uses one combined application for LIHEAP and weatherization. You can fill it out online through the state's apply.mt.gov portal, or print the form from DPHHS, then deliver or mail it to the eligibility office listed on the last page. Most counties are served by a Human Resource Development Council. Find yours on DPHHS's list of local and tribal LIHEAP offices.

Several tribal nations run their own LIHEAP programs. If you live on or near a reservation, the tribal office may be the right place to apply, and its rules and dates can differ from the state's.

Papers to gather

• Proof of income for everyone in the home, such as pay stubs, Social Security or SSI letters, or unemployment statements.
• Recent bank statements, since Montana counts resources.
• Your most recent heating and electric bills, or your fuel dealer's name and account number.
• Social Security numbers and ID for household members.
• A shutoff notice or a low-tank reading, if you are in an emergency.

Our documents checklist can help you get organized. DPHHS takes public questions at 406-444-1788, but your local office handles your case.

Emergencies, furnace failures, and extreme heat

Montana offers crisis help all year for LIHEAP-eligible households. The state plan lists a ceiling of $9,999, which reflects that a crisis payment can cover a furnace repair or replacement, not just a bill. Situations the plan names include:

• Weather or other forces damage your home and cause a severe loss of heat.
• Your main heating system is hazardous and needs safety work.
• A fuel shortage or severe weather leaves you without heat.
• A household member has a documented medical need for heating safety changes.

LIHEAP can even pay to relight a furnace pilot light when it is your main heat. Space heaters may be provided to get a family through a life-threatening emergency.

Agencies must resolve a crisis within 48 hours, or 18 hours if it is life-threatening. Montana counts it as life-threatening when your electric or gas service is off, or your propane, wood, coal, or fuel oil is below 10%, you have no backup heat, and it is below 32°F outside. A household member whose health is at serious risk from the cold also counts.

Help during heat waves

Montana does not pay summer cooling benefits, but crisis cooling help is allowed during sustained high temperatures. It is limited to fans, local cooling centers (which can open when temperatures are expected to reach 90°F for three days in a row), hotel stays, and an air conditioner for one room when a medical provider writes that it is needed to prevent heat-related illness or death. The letter does not have to name the diagnosis.

The November to April winter moratorium

Many people believe Montana utilities cannot shut off heat in winter at all. That is not quite right. The Public Service Commission's winter moratorium guide explains the actual rule:

Having children in the home does not, by itself, stop a winter shutoff. If you get a notice, call the utility right away, explain your situation, and mention any pending LIHEAP application. If the problem is not solved, call the PSC's consumer line at 1-800-646-6150. Co-op members should ask their co-op for its written winter policy.

Montana utility relief programs from your provider

Montana's biggest help from a utility comes as a discount linked to LIHEAP. NorthWestern Energy's March 2026 customer newsletter, Energy Connections, says the discounts start automatically once you are approved for LIHEAP.

The co-op programs come from the LIHEAP Clearinghouse's Montana snapshot. Montana-Dakota Utilities customers should call MDU to ask what assistance it offers. NorthWestern also offers payment arrangements and extended due dates through its payment assistance page, or call 888-467-2669.

Energy Share and other last-resort help

Energy Share of Montana is a private nonprofit that helps with home energy emergencies. It usually gives one-time help with a heating bill, and sometimes pays for heating repairs or other urgent energy needs. Unlike LIHEAP, it decides based on need rather than a fixed income chart and does not care what fuel you use. You apply through your local HRDC, not the Energy Share office. Its statewide number is 1-800-777-7589.

Energy Share is meant for people who have run out of other options, so apply for LIHEAP first. If LIHEAP has already paid and you still face a shutoff, or your income is just over the limit, Energy Share may be the next step.

Churches, the Salvation Army, and St. Vincent de Paul in larger towns sometimes help with part of a bill. Our guide to Salvation Army help with utility bills explains how those requests usually go.

Weatherization, water bills, and 211

Weatherization. Montana's Weatherization Assistance Program uses the same application as LIHEAP and takes it any time of year. Households that qualify for LIHEAP also qualify for weatherization and energy education. Approved homes are ranked into priority groups, with older adults and other vulnerable households first. An energy auditor visits, decides which work saves the most, and a crew or contractor does it. Typical work includes insulation, air sealing, and duct and water heater insulation. See our weatherization guide for more.

Water and sewer. LIHEAP does not cover water. The temporary federal Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) has ended, and Montana has no statewide water bill program in its place. Ask your city water office about payment plans.

211. Dial 2-1-1 or visit 211.org to find local funds, food banks, and other help that can free up money for your utility bill.

Related guides

• Montana assistance programs
• Montana hardship program
• Montana rent relief
• North Dakota utility relief programs

Frequently asked questions

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Benefit amounts, income limits, and dates are set by DPHHS, local agencies, the Public Service Commission, and each utility, and can change with funding. National Relief Program is an independent website and is not affiliated with the State of Montana, any utility, or any government agency.