How it Works

Residential customers who meet income eligibility or receive certain government benefits and lack the resources to pay their gas or electric bill may qualify for shut-off protection during the winter months.

Winter Protection protects your service from being shut off from November 1 through May 1, with no late payment charges.

This protection must be renewed annually. We encourage you to check if you qualify for service shut-off protection while applying for the Connecticut Energy Assistance Program through a local Community Action Agency.

When participating in Winter Protection, you're encouraged to continue paying as much of your bill as possible, since the full amount will still be owed at the end of the protection period.

To be eligible, you must meet one of the following criteria:

• Receive Aid to the Aged, Blind or Disabled (State Supplement); or Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC); or Medicaid; or Supplemental Security Income (SSI); or General Assistance.
• Your sole source of financial support is from Social Security or Veteran's Administration.
• Income levels fall below 60 percent of the state median income.
• Your circumstances threaten deprivation of the necessities of life (including but not limited to food, clothing, shelter, medical expenses and heat) if payment of a delinquent bill is required.
• You currently receive heating assistance.

Learn more about what income verification documents you may need.

For more information or to enroll in the program, please call Eversource at 800-286-2828.