Met-Ed
Struggling to Pay Your Electric Bill? We Can Help.
There are many reasons you or someone you know may need help with home energy costs. We understand and can offer a variety of programs to help you budget your monthly payments, pay winter heating bills, catch up on past-due payments, or avoid service disconnection.
See what programs are available in your area and learn about what type of assistance could be available based on your location, household size and income.
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Payment Assistance Programs
Pennsylvania Customer Assistance Program (PCAP)
PCAP helps residential customers maintain electric service and eliminate their past-due balance. The goal of this program is an affordable bill.
In PCAP, you may be eligible for one or more of the following:
- A monthly bill based on a percentage of income or actual usage, whichever is less. The percentage of income amount cannot be less than the required minimum of $12 (non-electric heating or $45 electric heating).
- An annual credit that pays the monthly bill charges that are greater than the percentage-of-income amount. Credits cannot exceed the annual limit unless an exemption is approved.
- Your pre-program account balance will be set aside for forgiveness with your first enrollment. Each time you pay a monthly PCAP bill, your preprogram balance will be reduced by 1/12th.
- No security deposits or late payment charges will be assessed, and any held deposit will be refunded to you
- Consideration for the WARM Program to improve the safety and comfort of your home at no cost to you
Notes:
- Applicants will be asked to provide household size and income information.
- You will receive notifications by mail and phone to recertify income eligibility periodically. Dollar Energy Fund may also send you a reminder, via text, that it is time to recertify.
Program Availability
- Open year-round
- Help Maintain Electric Service
Apply Now
Contact Dollar Energy Fund (DEF) for more information and to apply for PCAP.
Online: PA Bill Assist*
Phone: 888-282-6816
Fax: 412-515-1661More Information
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Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
LIHEAP is a federally funded grant program administered by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania through its network of local county assistance offices. LIHEAP provides customers help with paying winter heating bills, and occasionally summer cooling bills. LIHEAP funds may be used to pay an electric bill even if electricity is not the main source of heat. There are household income requirements for this program.
LIHEAP has two components:
- CASH provides a cash payment directly to the utility, to be applied toward bill reduction if certain guidelines are met.
- CRISIS provides a grant to help avoid shut off of electric service, which resulted from over-due bills. This grant also can be used to restore service shut off during the winter months.
Program Availability
Typically opens November 1 and remains open through early April or until funds are exhausted.
Apply Now
- Contact the Department of Human Services LIHEAP Hotline 866-857-7095
- Compass Website *
- Local Assistance Offices *
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Dollar Energy Fund
The Dollar Energy Fund is an emergency hardship fund designed to help residential customers who have suffered a recent financial hardship and need temporary help in paying their electric bill. Income guidelines apply.
Program Availability
Opens October 1 and remains open until funds are exhausted
Apply Now
- Contact Dollar Energy at 888-282-6816
- Dollar Energy Website *
- Dollar Energy Assistance Agency Finder *
Make a Donation
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WARM Program - Low Income Usage Reduction Program (LIURP)
The WARM Program can help low-income customers lower electric bills and keep their homes more comfortable in the winter and summer months. It is available to homeowners and renters with landlord approval.
Program Availability
Open year-round
Customers Participating in WARM
- Receive an in-home energy evaluation
- Work with a trained energy educator to create an energy-savings plan
- Have the opportunity to receive the following energy-saving items installed in the home:
- Caulking and weather-stripping
- Refrigerator/freezer testing and possible replacement
- Electric water heater inspection
- Energy-saving light bulbs
The specific improvements that you are eligible to receive will be determined during your home energy evaluation. No payment is required for these installations/services. There are household income requirements and electricity use requirements.
Apply Now
- Contact: FirstEnergy Human Service Department at 1-888-406-8074
- PA Bill Assist*
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Customer Assistance & Referral Evaluation Services Program (CARES)
CARES provides assistance on a short-term basis to payment-troubled residential customers who are experiencing a temporary hardship. Based upon the circumstances, company CARES representatives make referrals to social agencies and provide information on appropriate company and/or external programs.
Apply Now
Contact Met-Ed - Email or call 800-545-7741
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211 Helpline
This nationwide resource and information helpline will identify programs in your area that may assist you or someone you know with utility bills.
Apply Now
- Available year round
- Call 211
- Text your ZIP Code to 898211
- 211 Website*
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Special Arrangements
Extended Due Date
If you are at least 60 years old or receive a Social Security or pension check, or if you receive disability assistance, we can extend your payment due date until after your check arrives.
Contact: Met-Ed - Email or call 800-545-7741Payment Arrangements
If conditions make it difficult to pay your electric bill on time, we can arrange affordable installments to be paid with your monthly bill. Payment arrangements help maintain your electric service while you make payments more suited to your financial situation.
To Apply:
- Log in to your account or register online to see if you are eligible for an installment plan or
- Contact Met-Ed via Email or call 800-545-7741
Third-Party Notification
Select a third party (a friend, relative, clergy, or social service agency) to be notified, along with yourself, if your electric service is about to be disconnected. The third party is not obligated to pay overdue bills but can remind you of pending disconnection and help you make payment arrangements.
Contact: Met-Ed - Email or call 800-545-7741Military Deferred Payment Program
This program is designed to assist customers who are having financial difficulties because their family members have been called to active military duty. Customers participating in the program may elect to defer paying either all or a part of their monthly electric bill. When the family member in the military service returns home, the account will be reviewed to determine payment arrangements for the balance owed.
Customers who have switched to an alternative generation supplier may defer the charges paid to their supplier only if that supplier offers a deferred payment program. If your supplier does not offer a deferred payment program, the supplier charges must be paid each month.
Contact: Met-Ed - Email or call 800-545-7741Protection from Abuse Order (PFA)
A PFA is an order from the court that protects you and your children from your abuser. It is a civil order that you can request on your own behalf against a family or household member who is abusing you. This order may enable you to make special payment arrangements.
Learn more about Protection from Abuse Orders
Contact: Met-Ed at 800-545-7741 (You will be required to provide us a copy of the order.) -
Medical Needs Assistance
Critical Care Program
The Critical Care Program identifies customers who use certain electrically operated life sustaining medical equipment in their home. The program helps customers - for whom a service interruption could be immediately life threatening or would make operation of necessary medical or life supporting equipment impossible or impractical - prepare for planned and unplanned power outages. Please call us if someone in your home uses this type of medical equipment.
Contact: Met-Ed - Email or call 800-545-7741
Medical Certification
Customers with severe health problems may have a licensed physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant certify in writing that they, or a member of their household, are seriously ill or have been diagnosed with a medical condition which requires the continuation of service to treat the medical condition.The current bill must be paid while the medical certificate is in effect. If this payment obligation is not met, the number of renewals is limited to two, each at a maximum of a 30-day period. This limitation refers to the entire household. If the payment obligation is met, additional medical certificates could be obtained. The customer is still responsible for the past-due amount and may be given the opportunity to pay the balance in monthly installments.
Contact:If you or a member of your household have a qualifying medical condition, we have made it easier for your doctor to submit the medical certificates to us by automating the forms online. Click here for a copy of FirstEnergy’s medical certification form. Please email us or call the Customer Care Center at 800-545-7741 for details on the information your doctor will need to complete the medical form.
For more information and to download the PUC’s standard medical certification form, please visit puc.pa.gov*. - Additional Information
*By clicking this link you are leaving the FirstEnergy website and entering a website maintained by a third party. They are entirely responsible for the content of their website.
