Energy Assistance

We offer support for Seattle residents to help pay for home heating and cooling, as well as furnace repair, cleaning or replacement.

ALERT: We will start processing applications for our energy assistance programs — Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and Puget Sound Energy Home Energy Lifeline Program (PSE HELP) — on Oct. 10, 2023, and begin accepting applications as early as Oct. 1, 2023.

Our energy assistance programs support households with low incomes pay energy bills, refill oil tanks, and repair or replace furnaces to keep warm throughout the winter. Byrd Byrd Barr Place administers both the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and the Puget Sound Energy Home Energy Lifeline Program (PSE HELP). Households can qualify for one or both programs.

Households that qualify for LIHEAP may also get support to pay a past-due balance on your energy utility bill; purchase an air conditioner for staying cool in summer months; or receive financial aid to cover past-due rent if facing eviction.

What do you need assistance with?

We will start processing applications for the next energy assistance program season, including Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and Puget Sound Energy Home Energy Lifeline Program (PSE HELP) on Oct. 10, 2023, and begin accepting applications as early as Oct. 1, 2023.

Note: You will need to qualify for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) in order to be eligible for other services, such as furnace repair or purchasing an air conditioning unit.

Responding to an urgent notice that my energy utilities will be shut off or have been disconnected

Notify Seattle City Light (206-684-3000) or Puget Sound Energy (1-888-225-5773) right away that you are applying to Byrd Barr Place for emergency energy assistance. If you have an active disconnect notice, we will process your application within 72 hours.

Apply online or download the form and return by email, mail or drop off at our offices. If you have questions or need help with the form, contact us at energyassistance@byrdbarr.place or 206-812-4940.

Paying my energy bill

Byrd Barr Place administers the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to help households with energy, heating and cooling, using electric, gas, wood or oil. With the LIHEAP program, payment support ranges from $200 to $1,000.

We also administer the Puget Sound Energy Home Energy Lifeline Program (PSE HELP) to support PSE customers in paying for electric or gas. With the PSE HELP program, payments range from $250 to $1,000.

Depending on your income and utility provider, you may qualify for a grant from one or both of these programs once per program year. We will begin accepting applications for the next program year of LIHEAP and PSE HELP on Oct. 1, 2023. Payment support is made by Byrd Barr Place directly to the utility company.

To apply for LIHEAP, download the form and return by email, mail or drop off at our offices. If you have questions or need help with the form, contact us at energyassistance@byrdbarr.place or 206-812-4940. To apply for PSE HELP, visit pse.com to confirm your eligibility and complete the application.

Re-filling my oil tank

For help re-filling your oil tank, please complete the energy assistance application and include the most recent copy of your oil delivery receipt.

We will begin accepting applications for the next program year of LIHEAP on Oct. 1, 2023. Apply online or download the form and return by email, mail or drop off at our offices. If you have questions or need help with the form, contact us at energyassistance@byrdbarr.place or 206-812-4940.

Repairing, cleaning or replacing my home furnace

If you are a homeowner and approved for the current LIHEAP program year, you may qualify for financial assistance with furnace repairs, cleanings or replacements.

Paying a past-due balance on my energy bill

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) offers the Contingency Benefit and Arrearages Benefit to eligible households. Upon determination of need, a household may receive a Contingency Benefit of $500 or an Arrearage Benefit of up to $2,500 to pay a past due balance to resolve a heat related crisis.

If a client has a balance of $550 or less after receiving a LIHEAP benefit, they will be processed for the Contingency Benefit. If a client has a balance of $551 or more after receiving a LIHEAP benefit, they will be processed for the Arrearage Benefit.

The Arrearage Benefit is a once-in-a-lifetime benefit. This means that all members of the household will be eligible to receive the benefit again in seven years.

We will begin accepting applications for the next program year of LIHEAP on Oct. 1, 2023.

Purchasing an air conditioning (A/C) unit

To be eligible for an air conditioning (A/C) unit, you must be approved for LIHEAP during the current program year. We will begin accepting applications for the next program year of LIHEAP on Oct. 1, 2023.

To request an A/C, indicate your interest on the energy assistance application form or contact us at acprogram@byrdbarr.place or 206-812-4940.

The A/C unit is a once-in-a-lifetime benefit. This means all members of the household who receive this benefit will be eligible to receive the benefit again in seven years.

Paying past-due rent

Byrd Barr Place offers financial support for apartment and home renters in the Seattle area who have an active eviction notice or who have had a loss of income and owe past-due rent.

Call us at 206-812-4940 or email housingassistance@byrdbarr.place to learn more and see if you are eligible.

I need help with something else

Our Community Connector can help you find and access other community resources and services. For example, we can assist you with signing up for SNAP, getting an ORCA card or bus passes, learning about job readiness programs, and connecting to coordinated health care. To request Community Connector services, please submit a request or call us at 206-812-4940.

You can also refer to the Byrd Barr Place Resource List for additional services, such as tenant counseling, legal assistance, relicensing, transportation, health and dental care, veterans support and more.

Additional Application Information

Eligibility

To be eligible for energy assistance from Byrd Barr Place, you must meet the following criteria.*

1) Use electricity, natural gas, wood, propane or oil to heat your home.

2) Live in one of the following Seattle ZIP codes:

98101
98102
98103
98104
98106
98107
98108
98019
98112
98115

98116
98117
98118
98119
98121
98122
98125
98126

98133
98134
98136
98144

98165
98177
98178
98199

* Residents of these ZIP codes who are not within Seattle city limits may be served by other agencies. If you are unsure if your home is located in our service area, please call us at 206-812-4940.

For ZIP codes not listed here, please contact the relevant agency:

South of Seattle and ZIP codes 98178 or 98106
Multi-Service Center
253-517-2263

Northeast of Seattle and 98133 ZIP code north of NE 145th Street
Hopelink
425-658-2592

3) Meet the following household income guidelines.

Eligibility is based on the average household monthly income for the previous three months.

2022–2023 Maximum Average Monthly Income Requirements
Household Size	LIHEAP	PSE HELP
1 person	$1,823	$5,563
2 people	$2,465	$6,354
3 people	$3,108	$7,150
4 people	$3,750	$7,942
5 people	$4,393	$8,579
6 people	$5,035	$9,213
7 people	$5,678	$9,850
8 people	$6,320	$10,483
9 people	$6,963	$11,121
10 people	$7,605	$11,754
11 people	$8,248	$12,392
12 people	$8,890	$13,025
13 people	$9,533	$13,663
14 people	$10,175	$14,296
15 people	$10,818	$14,933

* Meeting these criteria does not guarantee that you will receive assistance.

After you apply

Applications are processed in the order received. If a submitted application is incomplete, we will contact you, and you will have 90 days from the signature date to provide missing documents or information before your application expires.

After processing, Byrd Barr Place will pledge your payment support amount to your utility on your behalf. The grant may take one to two billing cycles before it is reflected on your bill. Direct pay clients should receive a check by mail six to eight weeks following processing.

In the meantime, find out from your utility how much you owe and set up payment arrangements, if needed. You must continue to pay your bills to prevent a disconnection.

Once the payment support is applied to your account, you are responsible for any balance or future payments. As long as you owe money, you will continue to receive notices until it is paid. You must pay 50% of what you owe (including the payment support) to prevent a shut off or to reconnect your service.

If your service is shut off, contact your utility to set up a time for reconnection. You may be charged a reconnection fee and may be required to pay the balance on a closed account.

If you need assistance to pay your balance, please contact your utility to make payment arrangements or call 2-1-1 for more resources.

Seattle City Light 206-684-3000
Puget Sound Energy 1-888-225-5773

Seattle City Light Customers

You may be eligible to have your electric bills lowered by 60%. Visit Seattle City Light’s Utility Discount Program or call 206-684-0268.

If you require additional assistance for a disconnect or urgent notice, please visit Seattle City Light or call 206-684-3688.

Frequently asked questions

Q: Do I need to have a shut-off notice or be disconnected to apply?
A: No. This program is designed to help you pay your bills. You do not have to have a shut-off notice to apply.

Q: How much will I receive?
A: Assistance varies by household. Payment support is calculated based on your average household income, number of household members, historical energy usage and housing type.

Q: When will I receive my payment support?
A: If you have a disconnect notice we will process your application within 72 hours. Otherwise, applications are processed in the order received. After processing, the payment support will be pledged to your utility on your behalf. It can take up to 8 weeks from your application date to show as paid on your account. You must continue to pay your bills to prevent a disconnection. If you need assistance to pay your balance, please contact your utility to make payment arrangements or call 2-1-1 for more resources.

Q: I get the monthly 60% discount on my Seattle City Light bill. Can I still apply for payment support?
A: Yes, please still apply. With UDP (Utility Discount Program) and LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program), you can cover more of your Seattle City Light bills for the year.

Q: What if I owe money on an old account or an account at a different residence?
A: If you have moved and closed your account or have been disconnected, your payment support can go only toward your new, active account. Call your utility service provider to make payment arrangements on your previous account balance.

Q: I applied last year, and my payment support was more. If my income hasn’t changed, why is my payment support less this year?
A: Payment support is calculated based on household income, household size, housing type and energy usage. Payment support can vary year to year depending on how these variables change. If your household income and size have not changed, the difference is probably due to your energy usage.

Q: I was included on another household member’s application who applied this year. Can I apply too?
A: No. Energy assistance payment support applies to the whole household. Everyone listed as a household member benefits from the payment support and cannot apply separately or be listed as part of another household until the next program year. This applies even if you move to your own residence.

Q: Can I apply if I was denied in the past?
A: Yes. We look at your current income and household size. If you were denied before and want to apply again, we will review your application to see if you meet the eligibility requirements.