Keeping the Lights and Heat On: Utility Protections and Assistance for Connecticut Families

Uninterrupted access to lights and heat is a critical basic need for children and families.

When a household loses utility service, one problem can quickly become a cascade of others. A home without heat or electricity can affect a child’s health, housing stability, and education. Children who are already struggling in school may have an even harder time catching up when they cannot do schoolwork in a dark or cold home. Families can also put their housing at risk when essential utilities are disconnected.

And when someone in the household has a medical condition that requires electricity and/or heat for medical equipment, medication, or other care, loss of service can become a critical health and safety issue.

For many families, the challenge is simple: the cost of electricity and heat has become difficult to afford.

Connecticut has several programs designed to help families who are struggling with utility costs. Some can protect a household from termination of service. Others can reduce a monthly bill or help address a past-due balance.

CCA continues to advocate for utilities to be truly affordable for families. In the meantime, these programs may provide important protections and some financial relief.

What programs can prevent termination of utility service?

There are two important protections families should know about: Medical Protection and Winter Protection.

Medical Protection

If someone in the household has a serious illness or a life-threatening medical situation, the household may qualify for protection from utility termination.

For a life-threatening situation, a physician or other authorized healthcare provider can submit medical certification to the utility company. This protection can prevent gas or electric service from being terminated outside the winter months as well as during the winter protection period.

Household members with a “serious illness” can also be protected from termination of service, but only between November 1 and May 1.  Your health care provider will decide which classification is appropriate.

Medical certification must be renewed as required, generally annually. Families should contact their utility company to learn what documentation their healthcare provider needs to submit.

It is important to remember that Medical Protection prevents termination of service; it does not eliminate the utility bill. Families can contact the utility company to try to access an affordable payment arrangement.

Winter Protection

Connecticut also provides shutoff protection for qualifying households between November 1 and May 1.

Households with a financial hardship designation qualify for the protection. Eligibility for this program is based on household income. For the 2026–27 winter season, a household is eligible if they have income of less than 60% of the State Median Income ($93,681 annually for a household of four). Households may also qualify based on participation in certain state or federal assistance programs.

To obtain Winter Protection, the utility account holder should contact the utility company and explain that the household believes it qualifies for financial hardship protection. The family will generally need to provide documentation of income or qualifying benefits.

Winter Protection may also help families whose service has already been terminated between November 1 and May 1. Families should contact the utility as soon as possible to ask about hardship status and restoration of service.

Like Medical Protection, Winter Protection does not erase an unpaid balance. The family is still billed every month, but their service cannot be shut off for nonpayment.  Families should contact their company about payment programs.

What programs can help with the monthly cost of utilities?

There are several programs available to qualifying households.

Matching Payment Program

The Matching Payment Program can help families reduce both their current utility costs and an existing past-due balance. For qualifying households, payments made toward the account are matched and applied toward the overdue balance. Over time, this can help a family reduce what it owes while keeping up with current utility costs.

Families should contact their utility company to find out whether they qualify and what payment amount would be required.

Low-Income Discount Rate

Qualifying households may also be eligible for a Low-Income Discount Rate, which reduces the amount of the monthly utility bill based on household income or participation in certain assistance programs.

Families who are struggling with monthly utility costs should ask their utility company whether they qualify for a discounted rate and what documentation is required.

Are there programs that can help with a past-due utility bill?

Yes. Two programs families should know about are the Connecticut Energy Assistance Program and Generation Power CT.

Connecticut Energy Assistance Program

The Connecticut Energy Assistance Program (CEAP) provides financial assistance to eligible Connecticut households with winter heating costs. The program is administered through regional Community Action Agencies, and eligibility is based on household income or participation in certain public-benefit programs.

Families can contact their local Community Action Agency to learn more and apply.

Generation Power CT

Generation Power CT also provides financial assistance to eligible households with past-due gas and electric bills. For the 2026–27 program year, Generation Power CT offers utility assistance grants of up to $500. Because funding is limited, energy-assistance applications are accepted during specific periods during the year.

Families should visit Generation Power CT or contact the organization to check current application availability and eligibility requirements.

What should a family do if they are worried about losing utility service?

The most important thing is not to wait until service has already been disconnected.

Contact the utility company as soon as you receive a shutoff notice or realize that you may not be able to keep up with the bill. Ask specifically about:

• Winter Protection or financial hardship status
• The Matching Payment Program
• The Low-Income Discount Rate
• Other payment arrangements for which the household may qualify

If someone in the household has a life-threatening or serious medical condition, let the utility know and ask what is required for medical certification. Families should also keep copies of utility bills, shutoff notices, income or benefit documentation, and any correspondence with the utility company.

Why does utility protection matter for children?

Keeping utilities on is about much more than paying a bill. Heat and electricity help keep children healthy, safe, housed, and connected to school.

CCA sees the effects of utility instability firsthand. During the past year, CCA helped 101 families avoid utility shutoffs and/or enter affordable payment plans, protecting 219 children from the immediate health risks associated with losing power.

For families already facing health, financial, housing, or other challenges, maintaining basic utilities can help prevent one hardship from becoming a much larger crisis.

Need Help Keeping Your Utilities On?

No family should have to choose between food, housing, healthcare, and keeping the lights and heat on.

CCA may be able to help families understand available utility protections, identify programs for which they may qualify, and advocate when access to essential utilities is putting a child’s health, safety, or housing stability at risk.

For more information about our utility project, please see the attached flyer, and reach out to Bonnie Roswig at broswig@cca-ct.org with any questions.