Energy assistance
Help paying your electric bill in Oregon
Bill discounts, one-time payment help and free home upgrades, and what to do first if you've received a shutoff notice.
- Free programs, no sales pitch
- PGE and Pacific Power customers
- Updated for 2026
The short answer
Start with your utility's ongoing discount: PGE's Income-Qualified Bill Discount takes 15% to 80% off energy charges, and Pacific Power's Low Income Discount offers 20% to 80% to households at or below 60% of state median income. For help with a past-due bill, apply for LIHEAP or the Oregon Energy Assistance Program (OEAP) through your local community action agency, or call 211. Free weatherization and Energy Trust of Oregon's income-qualified offers lower the bill for good.
Updated
- PGE bill discount
- 15% to 80% off energy charges
- Pacific Power discount
- 20% to 80% for qualifying households
- One-time payment help
- LIHEAP and OEAP
- Where to apply
- Local community action agency, or call 211
- Free home upgrades
- Weatherization for income-qualified homes
- Shutoff notice?
- Call your utility before the date
Programs
Oregon electric bill assistance programs
| Program | What it does | How to apply |
|---|---|---|
| PGE Income-Qualified Bill Discount | 15% to 80% off energy charges every month for two years | PGE online or 503-228-6322; no documents needed to apply |
| Pacific Power Low Income Discount | 20% to 80% monthly discount at or below 60% of state median income | PacificPower.net/LID, or your local energy assistance agency |
| LIHEAP | Federal one-time payment toward heating and electric bills | Local community action agency, or call 211 |
| Oregon Energy Assistance Program (OEAP) | State one-time payment for PGE and Pacific Power customers | Local community action agency, or call 211 |
| Weatherization Assistance | Free insulation, air sealing and heating repairs | Local community action agency |
| Energy Trust income-qualified offers | Free or discounted upgrades and higher solar incentives | Energy Trust of Oregon |
| Community solar, income-qualified | Guaranteed bill savings, no upfront or cancellation fees | Oregon Community Solar Program |
| Payment plans and equal-pay billing | Spread a past-due balance or winter bills over months | Call your utility |
PGE Income-Qualified Bill Discount
- What it does
- 15% to 80% off energy charges every month for two years
- How to apply
- PGE online or 503-228-6322; no documents needed to apply
Pacific Power Low Income Discount
- What it does
- 20% to 80% monthly discount at or below 60% of state median income
- How to apply
- PacificPower.net/LID, or your local energy assistance agency
LIHEAP
- What it does
- Federal one-time payment toward heating and electric bills
- How to apply
- Local community action agency, or call 211
Oregon Energy Assistance Program (OEAP)
- What it does
- State one-time payment for PGE and Pacific Power customers
- How to apply
- Local community action agency, or call 211
Weatherization Assistance
- What it does
- Free insulation, air sealing and heating repairs
- How to apply
- Local community action agency
Energy Trust income-qualified offers
- What it does
- Free or discounted upgrades and higher solar incentives
- How to apply
- Energy Trust of Oregon
Community solar, income-qualified
- What it does
- Guaranteed bill savings, no upfront or cancellation fees
- How to apply
- Oregon Community Solar Program
Payment plans and equal-pay billing
- What it does
- Spread a past-due balance or winter bills over months
- How to apply
- Call your utility
PGE's discount and energy assistance can be used together. Program funding and income limits change each year.
Shutoff notice
If you've received a shutoff notice
Call your utility before the shutoff date and ask for a payment arrangement. Utilities would rather set up a plan than disconnect.
If someone in your home has a serious medical condition, ask about a medical certificate, which can delay disconnection.
Apply for LIHEAP or OEAP right away through your local community action agency. Payments go directly to your utility.
Enroll in your utility's bill discount so the next bills are smaller.
Call 211 or visit 211info for other local help with rent, food and utilities.
Lower it for good
Ways to make the bill smaller long-term
Weatherization: insulation and air sealing often make the biggest difference in homes with electric heat.
Heat pump service: a heat pump stuck running its backup heat strips can double a winter bill.
Equal-pay billing makes winter bills predictable, though it doesn't reduce the total.
Solar or a prepaid solar lease replaces energy you'd buy from the utility, and Energy Trust offers higher solar incentives for income-qualified homes.
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Long-term fix
See if solar would lower your bill for good
We'll check which income-qualified incentives you're eligible for and show what solar, a prepaid lease or a battery would do to your bill. No pressure, no cost.
Electric bill help questions
Straight answers from the local team.