How to get help paying your electric bill in Washington, D.C.

Your summer shutoff protection in Washington, D.C.

A medical certificate postpones a shutoff for 21 days.

Assistance programs in Washington, D.C.

• RAD (Residential Aid Discount), part of UDP, takes about 25% off your Pepco bill — up to roughly $475 a year.
• One DOEE application enrolls you across the discount programs you qualify for.

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.

• Pepco (DC) — payment arrangements & RAD enrollment → · 202-833-7500

  RAD is enrolled through DOEE; Pepco assistance line 202-496-5830

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 LIHEAP (and UDP) (311) 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 medical certificate postpones a shutoff for 21 days.

5. 5

   Escalate if the rules are broken

   If your utility won't follow the rules, contact DC PSC — Consumer Bill of Rights at 1-800-685-0234.

If the main programs are tapped out

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

• Greater Washington Urban League — energy assistance → · 202-265-8200 up to $500
• United Way of the National Capital Area — DC utility help →

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 Washington, D.C.

• D.C. has a strong summer rule — 95°F at any time of day, not just the morning reading — so a lot of hot days are covered.
• The thing most people miss: LIHEAP is closed, but UDP/RAD is open and its income limits are higher, so households that assume they don't qualify often do.

Common questions

Can my electricity be shut off in summer in Washington, D.C.?

In D.C., your power can't be shut off for nonpayment when the forecast hits 95°F at any point in the day. No disconnection when the National Weather Service forecasts 95°F or above at any time of day (or 32°F or below). A medical certificate adds a 21-day hold, and there are no shutoffs from Thursday 5 p.m. to Monday 8 a.m. 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 Washington, D.C. this week?

Since LIHEAP is closed, apply for UDP/RAD at DOEE for an ongoing ~25% discount. On a 95°F+ forecast day you can't be disconnected, and a medical certificate buys 21 days. Call Pepco at 202-833-7500 for a payment arrangement.

How do I apply for help paying my electric bill in Washington, D.C.?

Start with LIHEAP (and UDP), run by DC Dept. of Energy & Environment (DOEE). LIHEAP is closed for this year — apply for the Utility Discount Program (UDP) instead, which is open and has higher income limits, so more households qualify. You can apply online or by phone (311). 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 Washington, D.C.?

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.