The LITE-UP Texas program provides significant savings on electric bills for Texas residents. The program is active for most of the year, from May to September, and provides significant discounts on utilities for low-income households. There are benefits available to government assistance recipients who are very low income families, as stated in Senate Bill 1976. This is a benefit offered by all utility companies in Texas where they will match any energy-saving benefits you are eligible for. For more information, please see the information below or call the number to apply.
The program was created to help families cope with the higher costs of utility bills during the warmer months in Texas. It can be difficult to pay air conditioning or cooling bills during this timeframe, and some customers, such as the elderly or ill, may even be at risk if their power were to be disconnected. There have been cases of people with medical conditions dying from heat-related problems during summer.
In order to help reduce the risk of people not being able to afford healthcare, the state implemented a discount program a number of years ago. While the rates will be set by a board which oversees the program, in some cases customers may be provided with up to an 80% discount on their monthly bills.
Some companies will also provide a discount on a deposit or connection fee that would normally be charged to the customer. If you are low income, it is a good idea to ask if your community offers this service. There may be extra help given to families that are considered to be at risk of not having power, such as a family with a young child or an elderly person living in the home.
The focus is on those who are very poor or those who are struggling, such as those who are unemployed. This means that old people and disabled people can also use this service. This subsidy is for customers that receive government benefits such as Medicaid or SNAP food stamps. If a customer meets the poverty guidelines set by the federal government, they may be able to enroll. This means that the scale is set to be about 125% of the federal guidelines. To learn more about how to apply for the LITE-UP program, call 1-866-454-8387.
Texas will require a document that proves where you live, a document that proves how much money you make, and other documents that support what you are saying. The applicant’s name and address must match the name and address on the electric bill. You may need to provide proof of how many people live in your household, how much money and property you have, and other information. The applications can be sent by fax or email to the state, and they will be processed in the same way.
The LITE-UP program is very comprehensive. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) is an electric grid that covers most of Texas. All utility companies in Texas are required to participate in ERCOT. This includes many energy companies, such as Centerpoint, Entergy, TXU, Reliant, and AEP. For households in deregulated areas, they may be able to get cheaper prices on their energy bills.
If your provider does not participate in the LITE-UP program, they will probably offer some other type of discount to people. There are many companies that offer similar services. You should call your company to see if they offer any type of discounts or subsidies.
Applying for discounts, Liteup Texas or Senate Bill 1976
The state will announce each year whether the discount will be available or not. This policy has been in place for a while and is unlikely to change. The Senate Bill 1976 discount program is another way to get discounts. If you need help, you can call the state at 1-866-454-8387 or ask your local community action agency.
When applying for college, most applications need to be completed in June or July. The sooner you apply, the better your chances are. It is important to have enough time to get information from the state so that there are no problems.