Energy Assistance PROGRAM
Funded by the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
NEXT APPLICATION DATE: JUNE 1, 2025
We will accept application calls for energy assistance via our online form on Sunday, June 1, 2025, starting at 11:00 am.
Use the button below to access the online form. Please note: this form will only be live starting at 11:00 am on June 1.
About Energy Assistance
We offer multiple dates throughout the energy season (October - September) to apply for energy assistance—see the table below for 2024-2025 application days and application method (online application or call-in). Households may receive assistance only once per season.
| Application Day | Application Method |
|---|---|
| CLOSED Tuesday, October 1, 2024 at 11:00 am | Online |
| CLOSED Sunday, December 1, 2024 at 5:00 pm | Call-in |
| CLOSED Saturday, February 1, 2025 at 11:00 am | Online |
| CLOSED Tuesday, April 1, 2025 at 5:00 pm | Call-in |
| Sunday, June 1, 2025 at 11:00 am | Online |
IMPORTANT INFORMATION BEFORE YOU APPLY
- This service is for residents of Stevens, Ferry, Pend Oreille, and Lincoln counties ONLY. If you live in a different county, find out who your energy service provider is here.
- This program is for qualifying households whose monthly income is at or below 150% of the federal poverty level. For a chart of qualifying income levels, click here.
- Filling out an energy assistance application is only the first step to receiving assistance. After your application is reviewed, you'll meet with a Rural Resources staff member to determine your full eligibility.
- While we would love to provide assistance to everyone, this program is in high demand and we reach our maximum number of applicants extremely quickly on application days. This can understandably lead to disappointment and frustration when not everyone can be accommodated. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work to administer this program in a fair and equitable way with limited resources and funding.
Rural Resources Community Action is the official provider in Stevens, Ferry, Pend Oreille, and Lincoln counties for Washington's Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).
How to Apply Online
Access the online application by clicking the button below. The application portal will open at 11:00 am on the dates specified in the table above, and will only be active until the limit is reached.
How to Apply by Phone
To apply via phone, call 509-685-6161 or toll free at 866-260-2729 beginning at 5:00 pm on the dates specified in the table above. Leave a message with your name, mailing address, and a working phone number. Speak slowly and clearly, and spell the first and last name.
Please note: This is a message line only. No one will be answering this line. The line will only be open during call-in time and until limit is reached.
What happens after you've applied?
An Energy Specialist will call you for your energy appointment Monday thru Friday between 9am and 4pm. Depending on the volume of applicants, it could be up to 90 days after leaving your contact info before we contact you for an appointment. If your contact information changes, it is your responsibility to call and update us with your new information. If the Energy Specialist is not able to reach you by phone after 3 attempts and/or leaving voicemail with no response, you will lose your appointment slot and have to reapply.
About LIHEAP
Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is a federally-funded program and is the source of funding for Rural Resources' Energy Assistance Program.
The purpose of LIHEAP is to assist qualified, low-income households with a one-time per season subsidy to help in meeting the home heating needs regardless of the heat source (wood, natural gas, electric, propane, oil, or pellets).
For more information about LIHEAP, visit commerce.wa.gov/community-opportunities/liheap/
If you would like to see more resources and funding allocated to this program so we can assist more people in our communities, please reach out to your state and federal representatives and ask them to allocate more funding to the Department of Commerce's LIHEAP program.
This Energy program is a supplement and not meant to pay all of your winter heating costs. You must continue to pay your energy bills.
Applying does not guarantee eligibility or assistance. Funds are provided on a first come, first served basis until exhausted. Funding is not guaranteed.