Help paying your electric bill in North Carolina
North Carolina got $105.1 million in the HHS table, about $25 for each of its 4,186,924 households. Income limit 130% of the poverty guideline; public line 1-800-662-7030. Heating help reached 132,375 households in FY2024.
Who to call in North Carolina
- North Carolina LIHEAP public line1-800-662-7030
- State program sitencdhhs.gov/assistance/low-income-services
- North Carolina Utilities Commission866-380-9816 · 919-733-9277 · ncuc.gov · complaint form (links checked 2026-10-02)
Shutoff rules and moratoria in North Carolina
North Carolina: cold weather by dates; hot weather by none listed; health or age needs yes.
| Protection | North Carolina |
|---|---|
| Colder months, by date | November 1 - March 31 No disconnects during this period for elderly, disabled, and customers eligible for the energy Crisis Assistance Program. Must agree to payment plan unless unable to pay for payment plan. |
| Health or age needs | No disconnects for the elderly in winter |
Clearinghouse, April 2026; cites Termination of Utility Service.
Rule text read, 2 October 2026: NCUC Rule R12-11 (Disconnection of residential customer's electric service); also R12-8, R12-12. NCUC Rule R12-11 requires 10 days' written notice, a 24-hour good-faith personal contact attempt, and a six-month installment offer for those unable to pay. Nov 1-Mar 31, elderly or handicapped households unable to pay and ECAP-eligible cannot be cut off without Commission approval. Informal appeals go to the Public Staff Consumer Services Division. Quote: “shall not be terminated for nonpayment of a delinquent account until the utility has given such customer at least 10 days' written notice”. Source: text of the rule (state official (NCUC consolidated rules PDF, text extracted)).
| Point | North Carolina: NCUC Rule R12-11 (Disconnection of residential customer's electric service); also R12-8, R12-12 |
|---|---|
| Winter / cold | No blanket season ban. For bills rendered Nov 1-Mar 31, notice must state no termination without express NCUC approval if household has a handicapped or elderly (65+) member, customer cannot pay, and household is certified by local social services as eligible for Energy Crisis Assistance Program or similar (R12-11(l)(6)). No temperature trigger found. |
| Who is protected | Handicapped/elderly (65+) with inability to pay and ECAP-type eligibility, Nov 1-Mar 31 (above). Utility may agree to defer for death or illness (billing schedule in R12-11(f)); no medical-certificate procedure found in text read. |
| Notice | At least 10 days written notice of proposed termination, with stated reasons, date, installment option, contact info; third-party notice option; good-faith contact attempt (phone or visit) at least 24 hours before termination; personal contact at premises immediately before termination (R12-11(l)-(n)). Bill due date at least 25 days after billing date. Generic R12-8 sets 5 days notice minimum. |
| Payment plan | Notice must say service will not be terminated if customer shows inability to pay in full and agrees to a reasonable installment agreement bringing the account into balance within six months (R12-11(l)(3)). |
| Who the rule covers | Rule refers to each electric utility operating under NCUC jurisdiction; co-op/muni coverage not read (definitions R12-12 not read). |
| Complaints | Informal appeal of termination to Consumer Services Division of the Public Staff-NCUC by phone, in writing or in person; notice gives (919) 733-9277 (R12-11(l)(4), (o)). No utility termination if appeal filed before disconnection until handled (partly read). |
Not found in the text we read: heat; verify with the commission. Did not read definitions (R12-12), the rest of (o) appeal procedure, utility tariffs, or G.S. Chapter 62 / any statutes; NCUC page is the consolidated rule PDF (undated in text read).
Paraphrase, not legal advice. Rules change; see the shutoff rules guide.
LIHEAP in North Carolina: money, limits, people helped
| Measure | North Carolina | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Funds FY2026 | $105,102,928 = $94,592,635 + $0 IIJA + $10,510,293 | FY26 table |
| Income limit | Heating: 130% Federal Poverty Level, (150 % Federal Poverty Level for households with 1+ member who is 60+ or disabled) Cooling: 150% Federal Poverty Level Crisis: 150% Federal Poverty Level Weatherization: 200% Federal Poverty Level | snapshot 19 Aug 2026 |
| Benefits FY2026 | Heating: $300 minimum, $500 maximum Cooling: $1 minimum, $600 maximum Crisis: $600 maximum Weatherization: $12,000 maximum | snapshot 19 Aug 2026 |
| Helped FY2024 | Heating: 132,375 Crisis: 96,619* Weatherization: 947 *Cooling benefits are delivered under the crisis program | snapshot 19 Aug 2026 |
| Program dates | Heating: December 1 - March 31 Crisis: Year-round Weatherization: Year-round | snapshot 19 Aug 2026 |
CSV
CSVNorth Carolina in numbers
- North Carolina ranks 39th of 51 on FY26 LIHEAP dollars per household ($25), 17th on households below the poverty line (13.0%) and 34th on low-income energy burden (8.4%).
- Per household below the poverty line (545,776 of them) the FY26 funds come to $193, rank 35th of 51: 11% of a typical year's electricity ($1,755). (even split, not a payment amount)
- 183,781 households got help in FY2022 against 1,123,544 at or below 60% of state median income in the 2022 LEAD file: about 16% (mixed years).
- Average heating benefit FY2022: $335, 19% of that year.
- Heating season: December 1 - March 31. Counted FY2024: heating, crisis, weatherization.
- Neighbours: FY26 dollars per household run from $24 (South Carolina) to $31 (Virginia); low-income burden from 7.5% (Virginia) to 10.0% (South Carolina). North Carolina: $25 and 8.4%.
Where North Carolina's low-income bills bite hardest
- Highest burden: Hyde County 16.1% (771 households); Bertie County 15.5% (3,204 households); Northampton County 13.9% (3,027 households); Washington County 13.5% (2,276 households).
- Most low-income households: Mecklenburg County 88,866 (6.9%); Wake County 71,061 (7.2%); Guilford County 60,179 (7.3%).
100 counties.
Am I likely eligible in North Carolina?
Median household income in North Carolina is $69,904, 212% of the four-person guideline; check line 130% (2026 guideline).
How heavy is the energy bill in North Carolina?
8.4% of income in low-income households, 2.1% overall. Ranking, North Carolina prices.
| Group | Count | North Carolina detail | Standing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 60% of median income | 1,123,544 households | 8.4% of income; $1,685 a year on $19,978 | rank 34 of 51 |
| All households | 4,105,232 households | 2.1%; $1,894 on $88,838 | rank 40 of 51 |
| Below poverty line | 545,776 households | 13.0% of 4,186,924 | U.S. 12.5%; rank 17 of 51 |
| Home price 2025 | 14.02 ¢/kWh | bill $146 a month at 1,044 kWh | U.S. 17.30 ¢, $152 |
CSV
CSVUtility and state bill programs in North Carolina
None listed for North Carolina in the snapshot of 19 Aug 2026; ask the utility.
North Carolina on the map
Next to North Carolina
Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia. Most FY26 funds per household: Virginia, $31. North Carolina: $25. All 51.
5 steps if you get a shutoff notice in North Carolina
- Note the notice date.
- Call the utility (North Carolina Utilities Commission sets rules).
- Call 1-800-662-7030 or 211.
- Ask about dates-based or health protection.
- Unresolved: North Carolina Utilities Commission, 866-380-9816.
Sources
Linked above; list on the hub.
Last verified: 2 October 2026. Not legal advice.
Questions
How much LIHEAP money does North Carolina get?
$105.1 million in FY2026, $25 per household, rank 39 of 51.
What income limit does North Carolina use for LIHEAP?
$35,516 for three people at 130% of the guideline; median household income $69,904; FY2022 heating standard 136% for four.
How do I apply for LIHEAP in North Carolina?
Call 1-800-662-7030. Site: https://www.ncdhhs.gov/assistance/low-income-services
Can North Carolina utilities cut power in winter or summer?
dates for cold; none listed for heat.
How big is the energy burden in North Carolina?
8.4% of income for low-income households, 2.1% for all; $1,685 a year for the first group.
How many North Carolina households got energy help?
183,781 in FY2022, 132,375 heating in FY2024, average heating benefit $335.
Is LIHEAP money enough for a North Carolina bill?
$193 per poor household, 11% of $1,755.