With the summer months upon us we wanted to let Texas House, Senate and Congressional members know about the Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program (CEAP). CEAP provides much needed utility bill payment assistance (electric, natural gas or propane) for low income (150% of federal poverty guidelines) households or families affected by COVID-19.
This program is administered through subrecipients, which collectively cover all 254 counties of the state. Below are materials with lists of agencies that cover each Texas county and their contact information, grouped by each Texas House, Senate and Congressional district. Please feel free to use this information to encourage constituents to apply for any needed bill payment assistance. Constituents can also contact 2-1-1 Texas by dialing 2-1-1 from a phone or visit their website at 211texas.org. 2-1-1 Texas connects Texas with local health and human services organizations that can help them meet their needs.
CEAP is funded by Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) which is a part of the Labor HHS federal budget and managed by the Administration of Families and Children. Texans received $164 M for FY21, $94 M in CARES funding & $132 M in American Rescue Plan funding. The CARES funding must be utilized before September 30, 2021.
Texas Rent Relief, a newly funded program, received $2.3 B in total from CARES & American Rescue Plan funding. Texas Rent Relief provides rent and utility assistance for households affected by COVID-19 as far back as March 13, 2020. To qualify households, need to be 80% of their county AMI. For more information visit TexasRentRelief.com or call 833-9TX-RENT (833-989-7368).
Please let the Vistra team know if you have any questions and if we can do anything to help.