There are programs to help you pay your energy bills

If you are struggling to pay your electric bill help is available.

It is important you stay in verbal contact with Verendrye Electric Cooperative about your electric bill. This also means ensuring we have valid phone numbers in order for us to contact you. If you have reached out to another organization for assistance for your electric bill, please notify our office. Your caseworker will also need to contact Verendrye to confirm they have received your application for assistance.

Here are a few of the programs available:

Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps eligible low-income families with home heating costs. The program partially pays the cost of natural gas, electricity, propane, fuel oil, coal, wood, or other fuel sources.

The program also covers:

• Weatherization services (insulation, weather stripping around doors and windows, etc.)
• Furnace cleaning, repair, and replacement
• Chimney cleaning and inspection
• Emergency assistance

For more information visit the State of North Dakota Human Services website:

www.hhs.nd.gov/applyforhelp/liheap

Community Action Partnership - Minot Region

Community Action serves the residents of Ward, Bottineau, Burke, McHenry, Mountrail, Pierce, and Renville Counties. Eligibility for most programs is based on either federal or state income guidelines. These guidelines vary from program to program and intake forms are used to determine client eligibility. Programs serve low-income individuals and families, senior citizens and others in a crisis situation.

For more information, visit http://www.capminotregion.org/

Community Options

*If you or someone you know needs help navigating through all the resources available, you may contact Community Options at 701-852-0174. They are available to aid in processing applications which also includes at home and neutral space visits. Their office is located at 300 3rd Ave SW Ste. D Minot, ND 58701. There is more information on their website at https://www.communityoptionsnd.com/.

Other resources include Salvation Army, Homeless Coalition, St Vincent de Paul, or your local church.