Winter Gas Bill Help: Hardship Funds, Payment Plans, and Discounts From Gas Utilities

Winter gas bill help: where to start

Gas heating costs are seasonal. Most of the year’s bill lands between December and March, which is exactly when charity funds and government programs are busiest. Starting early, in November or December, gives you the best chance of getting help before funds run low.

Begin with your gas bill in hand. It shows your account number, any past-due balance, and the name of the company to call. In some states, such as Georgia, the company that delivers the gas is not the company that bills you, so check both names on the bill. Atlanta Gas Light, for example, delivers gas while customers buy it from a marketer such as Gas South.

Then sort your situation into one of three groups:

• Current but worried about January. Look at budget billing and apply for LIHEAP now.
• Behind, no shutoff notice yet. Ask for a payment plan and the hardship fund, and apply for LIHEAP.
• Shutoff notice or already off. Treat it as a crisis. Our emergency heating assistance guide covers same-day steps and state winter shutoff rules.

Gas utility hardship funds compared

Many gas companies collect donations from customers and employees, add company money, and pass it to a charity that decides who gets help. These funds often reach households that earn a little too much for LIHEAP, or whose LIHEAP grant did not cover the whole bill. Here is what several large gas utilities list for this season.

Sources: Nicor Gas energy assistance, Gas South energy assistance, Columbia Gas of Ohio assistance programs, and Atmos Energy Sharing the Warmth. We could not load SoCalGas’s page when we checked, so confirm the current Gas Assistance Fund amount on socalgas.com or in our SoCalGas assistance guide.

A few patterns hold across these funds. Help is usually once per season or once in 12 months. The payment goes to the gas account, not to you. You often must show you applied for LIHEAP first or were turned down. And funds close when the money is gone, which can happen by late winter. If one fund is closed, ask the agency about the next one; Nicor, for example, runs several programs that open at different times. Atmos customers can read more in our Atmos Energy bill assistance guide.

Winter payment plans and reconnection deals

A payment plan, sometimes called an installment plan or deferred payment agreement, splits a past-due balance into smaller monthly amounts added to your regular bill. Atmos Energy says its installment plans come with no charge or fee, and customers can set one up online or by phone. Most regulated gas utilities offer something similar.

Some states set special rules for gas customers in winter:

• Illinois. From December 1 to March 31, a utility cannot disconnect a gas-heated home for nonpayment unless it has first offered a winter payment plan with a down payment of no more than 10% of the past-due amount, spread over at least four months.
• Ohio. Columbia Gas of Ohio lists a special reconnect order from October 12, 2026, to April 16, 2027: pay $175 to reconnect or keep service, then set up a plan for the rest. Ohio also has PIPP Plus, where you pay 5% of monthly household income, at least $10, for gas service each month.
• Colorado. Atmos offers a percentage-of-income plan for eligible Colorado customers, with gas-heated households paying 2% to 3% of income depending on poverty level, after first getting help from LEAP or Energy Outreach Colorado.

When you call, ask for the smallest down payment the company allows and the longest repayment period. Then make sure the new monthly total is one you can actually pay, because missing a plan payment can end your winter protection.

Budget billing for gas customers

Budget billing averages your yearly gas cost into twelve equal payments. Nicor calls it the Budget Plan, and Atmos calls it Budget Billing. For a gas-heated home, the effect is large. A household that pays $40 in July and $220 in January could instead pay a steady amount near the yearly average each month.

Budget billing does not lower what you owe for the year. It changes when you pay. The utility reviews the amount during the year and adjusts it if you use more or less gas than expected, so a very cold winter can raise the payment. It also works best when you are caught up. If you are behind, pair it with a payment plan for the old balance. If you start in November, the plan may need a catch-up amount, since the year’s average is higher than a fall bill.

LIHEAP for gas-heated homes

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program is the largest source of help with heating bills. For gas customers, the benefit is usually a credit paid straight to the gas account once each heating season. Income limits are set by each state, up to 150% of the federal poverty guideline or 60% of state median income. Find your local office through EnergyHelp.us or by calling the national referral line at 1-866-674-6327.

Funding is moving this winter. The LIHEAP Clearinghouse reports that about $3.6 billion in fiscal 2027 funds went out to states on October 9, 2026, roughly 90% of the amount available under the stopgap budget. The final yearly figure is still pending in Congress. Opening dates vary: Georgia opens LIHEAP to seniors 65 and older on the first working day of December and to everyone else on the first working day of January, according to Atlanta Gas Light. Our LIHEAP guide explains the application.

Automatic eligibility through SSI, SNAP, or Medicaid

If you already get certain benefits, you may skip some of the income paperwork. Federal law, at 42 U.S.C. 8624, lets states treat a household as eligible for LIHEAP when someone in it receives SSI, SNAP, TANF cash help, or certain needs-tested veterans payments. States choose whether to use this option, so ask your office.

Medicaid is not on that federal list, but some gas discount programs accept it. California’s CARE program accepts Medi-Cal, CalFresh, SSI, WIC, LIHEAP, TANF, free school lunch, and several other programs as proof of eligibility. In Illinois, Nicor says customers who receive LIHEAP or PIPP are enrolled automatically in its Low-Income Discount Program.

Keep your benefit letters handy. A current SSI award letter, SNAP notice, or Medicaid card is often the fastest proof you can give.

Discounts that lower the rate itself

Hardship funds help once. A discount helps every month. Ask your gas company whether it has one of these:

• California CARE. A 20% discount on natural gas bills. For June 1, 2026, to May 31, 2027, the income limit is $43,280 for a household of one or two, $54,640 for three, and $66,000 for four.
• Nicor Low-Income Discount. Total bill discounts from 5% to 77% for customers with qualifying incomes, according to Nicor.
• Georgia senior discount. Atlanta Gas Light offers up to $14 off the monthly base charge for customers 65 or older with household income at or below 200% of the poverty guideline ($31,920 for one person).
• Percentage-of-income plans. Ohio’s PIPP Plus and Colorado’s plan for Atmos customers cap the bill at a share of income.

Many smaller gas companies have no discount at all. In that case, LIHEAP and the hardship fund are your main options.

Using less gas without spending money

Small changes add up over a long winter. These cost little or nothing:

• Lower the thermostat a few degrees at night and when no one is home.
• Keep vents and radiators clear of furniture and curtains.
• Open curtains on sunny days and close them at night.
• Set the water heater to a moderate temperature, often 120 degrees.
• Seal obvious drafts around doors with a rolled towel.

For bigger savings, apply for weatherization through your state program. Columbia Gas of Ohio, for example, lists its WarmChoice program for possible free efficiency upgrades for eligible customers.

A winter gas bill plan, step by step

1. Read your bill and note who delivers and who bills your gas.
2. Apply for LIHEAP as soon as your state opens, with income proof or a benefit letter.
3. Call the gas company and ask for a payment plan, the hardship fund, any discount, and budget billing.
4. Contact the charity partner named by the utility, such as the Salvation Army or a community action agency.
5. Call 211 for church and community funds if a balance is still left.
6. Keep every payment on your plan so winter protections stay in place.

Related guides

• Help paying heating bill costs by fuel type
• Nicor Gas assistance
• Atlanta Gas Light assistance
• Catholic Charities gas bill assistance

Frequently asked questions

This guide is general information. Programs, amounts, and dates are set by each utility, charity, and state, and can change during the season. National Relief Program is an independent website and is not affiliated with any utility or government agency.