Bill help · Virginia

How to get help paying your electric bill in Virginia

If there's a shutoff date on your notice — or you're just dreading the next bill in this heat — you're in the right place, and you have more options than most people realize. You usually don't need the money today to stop a disconnection. Asking for help is something millions of households do every summer; it's a process, not a confession.

Facing a shutoff this week? Do this first.

If a 92°F+ day is in the forecast, cite § 56-245.1:3 — you can't be cut off. File a medical certificate if anyone in the home is vulnerable, and apply for EnergyShare ($300 cooling, no income cap) through 211. Escalate to the SCC at 1-800-552-7945 if your utility won't comply.

Before you call, have your account number, the shutoff notice, and a rough sense of your household income ready. When you hang up, you should have three things: a confirmation number, the new amount due, and the new date. If you don't, ask for all three before you go.

Your summer shutoff protection in Virginia

In Virginia, your electricity can't be shut off for nonpayment when the forecast high is 92°F or above within 24 hours — and not on Fridays, weekends, or holidays either.

State law (Va. Code § 56-245.1:3) bars disconnection when the forecast high is 92°F+ (or the low is 32°F or below) within 24 hours of a scheduled shutoff, and around weekends/holidays.

Source: Va. Code § 56-245.1:3. Rules and thresholds can change — confirm the current rule before relying on it.

A serious-medical-condition certificate delays termination 15 days, then 30 more — usable twice in a 12-month period.

Assistance programs in Virginia

Energy Assistance Program — Cooling Assistance

Run by Virginia Dept. of Social Services (local DSS).

Cooling Assistance is OPEN (roughly mid-June to mid-August) — it can buy a window AC unit, repair central AC, or help with the electric bill for a household with someone 60+, disabled, or a child under 6.

Apply on CommonHelp or your local DSS → · 1-855-635-4370

  • Virginia leans on utility programs rather than a statewide percentage-of-income plan — Dominion's EnergyShare and Appalachian Power's Neighbor to Neighbor are the main ongoing help.
  • Under SCC rules, if you've received energy assistance in the last year a utility can't demand more than 25% of your arrears to restore service.

Your utility's own programs

Which help you get depends on who your electric company is, not just your state. Find yours below — these programs are often the biggest, most durable relief, because they lower the bill going forward, not just once.

Step by step, when a shutoff is looming

  1. 1

    Read your notice for the real deadline

    Find the shutoff date and the exact amount needed to avoid termination — it's often less than your full balance.

  2. 2

    Call your utility before that date

    Even with no money in hand. Ask for a payment plan and whether enrolling in assistance or a payment plan pauses the shutoff.

  3. 3

    Apply for assistance

    Apply for Energy Assistance Program — Cooling Assistance (1-855-635-4370) and ask your utility about its own program. A pending application can hold off a disconnection.

  4. 4

    Use a medical certificate if anyone is vulnerable

    A serious-medical-condition certificate delays termination 15 days, then 30 more — usable twice in a 12-month period.

  5. 5

    Escalate if the rules are broken

    If your utility won't follow the rules, contact Virginia SCC — public utility consumers at 1-800-552-7945.

If your utility won't play by the rules

Your state regulator can halt an improper disconnection. They enforce the notice periods, the summer rules, and the medical-certificate protections — and a complaint can stop a shutoff while it's reviewed.

Virginia SCC — public utility consumers → · 1-800-552-7945

How often does this actually happen in Virginia?

More than most people think — which is exactly why these protections exist. In 2024, federal data shows Virginia utilities cut power to households for nonpayment at very different rates. Dominion Energy Virginia disconnected about 15.5 per 100 customers — the highest of the Virginia utilities we track. You're not an outlier for needing help; you're one of many.

See how every utility ranks on disconnections →

If the main programs are tapped out

When government funds run dry or you're just over the income line, these are the backstops:

One warning, because this audience gets targeted: your real utility will never demand a gift card, and a genuine shutoff never happens in the next hour over the phone. If someone says that, it's a scam — hang up and call the number printed on your bill. More on utility scams →

The honest read on Virginia

  • Virginia's 92°F law is one of the most useful summer protections in the country — but Dominion also disconnects more households than almost any utility we track, so know your rights before the notice arrives.
  • EnergyShare is unusual in having no income cap, which means working households who earn too much for LIHEAP can still get cooling help.

Common questions

Can my electricity be shut off in summer in Virginia?
In Virginia, your electricity can't be shut off for nonpayment when the forecast high is 92°F or above within 24 hours — and not on Fridays, weekends, or holidays either. State law (Va. Code § 56-245.1:3) bars disconnection when the forecast high is 92°F+ (or the low is 32°F or below) within 24 hours of a scheduled shutoff, and around weekends/holidays. It's worth knowing the exact rule, because it may mean you're already protected today.
What's the fastest way to stop a shutoff in Virginia this week?
If a 92°F+ day is in the forecast, cite § 56-245.1:3 — you can't be cut off. File a medical certificate if anyone in the home is vulnerable, and apply for EnergyShare ($300 cooling, no income cap) through 211. Escalate to the SCC at 1-800-552-7945 if your utility won't comply.
How do I apply for help paying my electric bill in Virginia?
Start with Energy Assistance Program — Cooling Assistance, run by Virginia Dept. of Social Services (local DSS). Cooling Assistance is OPEN (roughly mid-June to mid-August) — it can buy a window AC unit, repair central AC, or help with the electric bill for a household with someone 60+, disabled, or a child under 6. You can apply online or by phone (1-855-635-4370). Also ask your own utility about its assistance program — that's often the bigger, longer-term help.
Does applying for assistance stop a disconnection in Virginia?
Often, yes. In many cases, having a pending assistance application or an accepted payment plan postpones a shutoff — you don't always have to wait for the money to land. Say so explicitly when you call your utility, and get a confirmation number.

Last reviewed June 18, 2026. Program names, income limits, dollar amounts, and dates change every year — and funds run out mid-season. We verify each link against the official source, but always confirm the current details with the agency or your utility before you rely on them. This is general consumer information, not legal or financial advice.

RateWatchdog is independent. We take no supplier commissions, we don't profit from which program you choose, and we'll always point you to the official, free source — including when it isn't us. See all states →