How to Get Emergency Utility Assistance in Arizona

If your power is about to be shut off or you’re behind on an Arizona utility bill, emergency utility assistance in Arizona typically starts with a single online application that screens you for a LIHEAP or Power AZ crisis payment of up to $500, paid directly to your utility. On top of that, Arizona’s regulated electric utilities cannot disconnect residential customers during the hottest months, and each major utility runs its own crisis bill assistance fund that can add hundreds or thousands of dollars more toward your balance.1Arizona Department of Economic Security. Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program

Can You Be Shut Off Right Now

Arizona Public Service (APS), Tucson Electric Power (TEP), and UNS Electric observe a disconnection moratorium from June 1 through October 15 each year. Outside that window, the same utilities must suspend shutoffs whenever the forecasted temperature exceeds 95 degrees Fahrenheit.2Arizona Corporation Commission. ACC Reminds Ratepayers of Utility Disconnection Ban During Extreme Heat Salt River Project is not regulated by the Arizona Corporation Commission but has voluntarily suspended disconnections during extreme heat events in recent years. Rural electric cooperatives follow their own rules, so call yours if you don’t know.

Regulated electric utilities also cannot disconnect a residential customer whose outstanding balance is below $300. For gas utilities, the threshold is $100.3Residential Utility Consumer Office. Disconnection Rules

None of this erases what you owe. Your balance keeps growing during a moratorium, and the utility can disconnect once the protected period ends. Treat the summer months as a window to apply for help, not a reason to wait.

The LIHEAP and Power AZ Crisis Benefit

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program is the main source of direct bill payment help in Arizona. It’s federally funded, administered by the Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES) through local Community Action Agencies, and covers both heating and cooling.1Arizona Department of Economic Security. Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program Approved households receive a standard benefit of $160 to $640 per year, paid directly to the utility.4The LIHEAP Clearinghouse. Arizona LIHEAP Profile

The piece that matters most in an emergency is the crisis benefit. Households that have received a shutoff notice, a delinquency notice, or have fewer than seven days of prepaid energy left can qualify for a one-time payment of up to $500. The crisis benefit is available once per 12-month period and is separate from the standard benefit, so an eligible household can receive up to $1,140 total in a year.5A-to-Z Arizona. Energy Assistance Learn More

Who Qualifies

To qualify for LIHEAP, your household’s gross income must fall below either 150% of the Federal Poverty Level or 60% of Arizona’s State Median Income, whichever is higher. In practice the State Median Income figure is always higher, so it’s the one that governs eligibility.6Arizona Department of Economic Security. Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Frequently Asked Questions The annual ceilings for fiscal year 2026:

  • 1 person: $33,690
  • 2 people: $44,056
  • 3 people: $54,422
  • 4 people: $64,789
  • 5 people: $75,155
  • 6 people: $85,521

Add roughly $4,900 per additional member above six.7The LIHEAP Clearinghouse. Arizona State Median Income for FFY 2026 These limits are more generous than many people expect. A family of four earning about $5,400 per month still qualifies.

If your income is too high for LIHEAP, you may still qualify for Power AZ, a state-funded companion program with an income ceiling of 100% of the State Median Income, roughly double the LIHEAP threshold. The monthly gross income limits for Power AZ in 2026:

  • 1 person: $4,679
  • 2 people: $6,119
  • 3 people: $7,558
  • 4 people: $8,998
  • 5 people: $10,438
  • 6 people: $11,878

You don’t apply separately for Power AZ. DES screens your utility assistance application against both programs and assigns you to whichever fits. You won’t receive benefits from both in the same eligibility period, and the same one-standard-and-one-crisis-per-year limit applies.

Non-citizen household members don’t count toward household size, but their income still counts toward the eligibility calculation. Having an ineligible member does not block eligible members from receiving help.5A-to-Z Arizona. Energy Assistance Learn More A Social Security number is not federally required to apply. Federal guidance states that the Privacy Act prevents the government from forcing applicants to provide one as a condition of eligibility.8Administration for Children and Families. HHS Guidance on the Use of Social Security Numbers (SSNs) and Citizenship Status Verification for Assistance by LIHEAP Grantees Programs

What to Gather Before You Apply

Having your paperwork ready before you open the application prevents delays that can leave you disconnected while a caseworker waits for documents. DES asks for:

  • A state-issued photo ID for the head of household.
  • Proof of residency, such as a lease, deed, or property tax bill.
  • Pay stubs from the last 30 days for every household member 18 or older, plus documentation of any Social Security, child support, TANF, or unemployment income.5A-to-Z Arizona. Energy Assistance Learn More
  • A recent utility bill from the provider you need help with.
  • A copy of your shutoff or delinquency notice if you’re applying for crisis assistance.

Households already enrolled in DES Cash Assistance or Nutrition Assistance (SNAP) are categorically eligible. Your income is already verified, so you won’t need to resubmit income documents, though you still need to provide a utility bill and meet other requirements.6Arizona Department of Economic Security. Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Frequently Asked Questions

How to Submit the Application

The fastest route is the A-to-Z Arizona Portal, the state’s combined online application. Submitting there screens you for both LIHEAP and Power AZ at once. Paper applications are also accepted.1Arizona Department of Economic Security. Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program

After you submit, a DES specialist reviews the file and may request more documents. Respond quickly. If enough time passes without an answer, DES can close the application and you’ll have to start over. Once approved, payment goes directly to your utility. In rare cases where the utility can’t accept direct payment, DES sends the funds to you.

If you want in-person help, Arizona’s Community Action Agencies offer local support in every county. Staff can walk you through the application and help you assemble documents. DES maintains a directory by county on its website.9Arizona Department of Economic Security. Community Action Agencies Maricopa County has separate agencies for Phoenix, Mesa, Glendale, and the broader county, so make sure you contact the right one for your address.

Crisis Bill Assistance From Your Utility

If you’ve already used your annual LIHEAP or Power AZ benefit, or if you need help faster than the state can process, each major utility runs its own emergency payment program through community partners.

APS customers facing a temporary hardship can qualify for up to $1,000 per year in crisis bill assistance through partners including Wildfire, Chicanos Por La Causa, and Maricopa County Human Services.10Arizona Public Service. Crisis Bill Assistance SRP runs a similar program funded partly through Project SHARE, where customer donations are matched dollar-for-dollar by SRP up to $5 million per year.11Salt River Project. Limited-Income Assistance Programs TEP works with community partners to distribute emergency bill payment assistance funded by a combination of utility contributions, customer donations, and federal energy assistance funds.12Tucson Electric Power. Customer Assistance

Nothing prevents you from receiving help from multiple sources in the same year. A LIHEAP standard payment, a LIHEAP crisis payment, and a utility crisis grant can all be applied to the same account.

Ongoing Discount Programs Worth Stacking

A one-time crisis payment solves this month. To keep the problem from returning, enroll in your utility’s monthly discount program at the same time. You can receive both.

APS customers with household income at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level receive either a 25% discount (up to $95 off per month) or a 60% discount (up to $165 off per month), depending on income. The Energy Support with Medical program bumps the lower tier to 35% for households with a member who depends on electric-powered medical equipment.13Arizona Public Service. APS Energy Support Program

SRP customers at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Level receive a $35 monthly credit; those between 151% and 200% get $10 per month. You can apply online, by phone at (602) 236-8888, or by mail, and you’ll need to reapply each year.14Salt River Project. Save with the SRP Income-Qualified Discount

TEP’s Lifeline program provides a $20 monthly discount for residential customers at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level. Lifeline participants can also receive free weatherization kits in limited quantities.12Tucson Electric Power. Customer Assistance Like SRP, TEP requires annual reapplication.

If Someone in the Home Uses Medical Equipment

If a household member relies on electric-powered life-sustaining equipment, tell your utility now. TEP and UNS Electric offer a Medical Device Alert that flags your account so the utility can prioritize your address during outages and communicate restoration timelines proactively. The alert requires certification from a licensed physician and must be renewed every two years.15Tucson Electric Power. Medical Device Alert

The alert is not a guarantee of uninterrupted service and does not on its own prevent disconnection for nonpayment. You still need to keep up with payments or enroll in an assistance program. APS customers should look at the Energy Support with Medical discount described above.

What About Water Bills

LIHEAP and Power AZ cover energy only. Arizona’s Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) was funded through federal pandemic-era appropriations and helped with past-due water and wastewater bills, but federal LIHWAP funding has expired and, as of 2026, reauthorization legislation has been introduced in Congress but not passed.16Administration for Children and Families. Arizona LIHWAP Profile Summary If you’re behind on water, contact your local Community Action Agency and ask what current resources are available. Some agencies maintain their own emergency funds or can connect you with local charitable programs.