New Hampshire home heating assistance resources: Get help as energy costs rise
Costs for fuel, other sources climbing
Costs for fuel, other sources climbing
Costs for fuel, other sources climbing
With prices to heat homes on the rise, Granite Staters in need are encouraged to reach out for help.
The state has several resources available to ensure homes are warm this winter.
NEW HAMPSHIRE FUEL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
To apply for help through the New Hampshire Fuel Assistance Program, Granite Staters need to reach out to Community Action Agencies for your area to set up an appointment or learn more about the application process. Dec. 1 is normally the start date for the program, but the start was slightly delayed in 2021.
Agencies include Community Action Program Belknap-Merrimack Counties, Inc. (CAPBMCI), Community Action Partnership of Strafford County (CAPSC), Southwestern Community Services, Inc. (SCS), Southern New Hampshire Services, Inc (SNHS) and Tri-County Community Action Program, Inc. (TCCAP):
- Ashland: TCCAP (603-968-3560)
- Berlin: TCCAP (603-752-3248)
- Claremont: SCS (603-542-9528 or 800-529-0005)
- Concord: CAPBMCI (603-225-6880)
- Derry: SNHS (603-965-3029 or 855-295-4105)
- Dover: CAPSC (603-435-2500)
- Farmington: CAPSC (603-435-2500)
- Hillsborough (M W Th & F): SNHS (603-924-2243 or 877-757-7048)
- Keene: SCS (603-352-7512 or 800-529-0005)
- Laconia: CAPBMCI (603-524-5512)
- Manchester: SNHS (647-4470 or 800-322-1073)
- Meredith: CAPBMCI (603-279-4096)
- Milford: SNHS (603-924-2243 or 877-757-7048)
- Nashua: SNHS (603-889-3440 or 877-211-0723)
- Peterborough: SNHS (603-924-2243 or 877-757-7048)
- Portsmouth: SNHS (603-431-2911 or 800-639-3896)
- Raymond: SNHS (603-895-2303 or 800-974-2303)
- Rochester: CAPSC (603-435-2500)
- Salem: SNHS (603-893-9172 or 800-939-9172)
- Seabrook: SNHS (603-474-3507 or 800-979-3507)
- Suncook: CAPBMCI (603-485-7824)
- Tamworth: TCCAP (603-323-7400)
- Warner: CAPBMCI (603-456-2207)
Benefits for eligible folks this winter will range from $253 to $2,520, depending on income, household size, housing type and fuel type. See income eligibility guidelines here.
ELECTRIC ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
Qualifying customers can get a discount on their monthly electric bill. Eligibility for the program, and the amount of the discount, is based on income and household size. Again, here's a link to income eligibility guidelines.
To apply, call a Community Action Agency near you (same numbers as above):
- Ashland: TCCAP (603-968-3560)
- Berlin: TCCAP (603-752-3248)
- Claremont: SCS (603-542-9528 or 800-529-0005)
- Concord: CAPBMCI (603-225-6880)
- Derry: SNHS (603-965-3029 or 855-295-4105)
- Dover: CAPSC (603-435-2500)
- Farmington: CAPSC (603-435-2500)
- Hillsborough (M W Th & F): SNHS (603-924-2243 or 877-757-7048)
- Keene: SCS (603-352-7512 or 800-529-0005)
- Laconia: CAPBMCI (603-524-5512)
- Manchester: SNHS (647-4470 or 800-322-1073)
- Meredith: CAPBMCI (603-279-4096)
- Milford: SNHS (603-924-2243 or 877-757-7048)
- Nashua: SNHS (603-889-3440 or 877-211-0723)
- Peterborough: SNHS (603-924-2243 or 877-757-7048)
- Portsmouth: SNHS (603-431-2911 or 800-639-3896)
- Raymond: SNHS (603-895-2303 or 800-974-2303)
- Rochester: CAPSC (603-435-2500)
- Salem: SNHS (603-893-9172 or 800-939-9172)
- Seabrook: SNHS (603-474-3507 or 800-979-3507)
- Suncook: CAPBMCI (603-485-7824)
- Tamworth: TCCAP (603-323-7400)
- Warner: CAPBMCI (603-456-2207)
For more information, visit this link.
WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
This program is designed to reduce household energy use and costs in low-income homes by installing improvements to make the home's energy use more efficient.
To apply, contact a Community Action Agency near you (same numbers as above):
- Ashland: TCCAP (603-968-3560)
- Berlin: TCCAP (603-752-3248)
- Claremont: SCS (603-542-9528 or 800-529-0005)
- Concord: CAPBMCI (603-225-6880)
- Derry: SNHS (603-965-3029 or 855-295-4105)
- Dover: CAPSC (603-435-2500)
- Farmington: CAPSC (603-435-2500)
- Hillsborough (M W Th & F): SNHS (603-924-2243 or 877-757-7048)
- Keene: SCS (603-352-7512 or 800-529-0005)
- Laconia: CAPBMCI (603-524-5512)
- Manchester: SNHS (647-4470 or 800-322-1073)
- Meredith: CAPBMCI (603-279-4096)
- Milford: SNHS (603-924-2243 or 877-757-7048)
- Nashua: SNHS (603-889-3440 or 877-211-0723)
- Peterborough: SNHS (603-924-2243 or 877-757-7048)
- Portsmouth: SNHS (603-431-2911 or 800-639-3896)
- Raymond: SNHS (603-895-2303 or 800-974-2303)
- Rochester: CAPSC (603-435-2500)
- Salem: SNHS (603-893-9172 or 800-939-9172)
- Seabrook: SNHS (603-474-3507 or 800-979-3507)
- Suncook: CAPBMCI (603-485-7824)
- Tamworth: TCCAP (603-323-7400)
- Warner: CAPBMCI (603-456-2207)
An applicant's eligibility will be determined based on their income. If they qualify, their application will be placed on a waiting list.
An energy auditor will then contact the applicant to schedule a time to perform a home energy audit. If the home qualifies for weatherization, the auditor will develop a report that will identify all ways for improvement. Then, improvements will be made, with the tasks that have the highest energy-conservation impact being done first.
For more information, visit this link.
ENERGY EFFICIENCY REBATES AND INCENTIVES
**UPDATE: For now, the NH Saves program is back on, though a New Hampshire Supreme Court decision looms that could affect the future of the program**
When they are being issued, energy efficiency rebates can be obtained through the NH Saves program, or by contacting a utility directly:
Get more information about what is offered -- when programs are available -- by visiting this link.
SAFETANK FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
This program provides educational and financial assistance to homeowners to help them maintain, upgrade or replace heating oil storage tanks.
Through the program, homeowners can learn what condition their tank is in. Leaky tanks can be an environmental hazard and can drive down energy efficiency. In some cases, the program can help fund the cost to replace a tank before it leaks.
The program can cover up to $2,250 to upgrade or remove and replace an above-ground tank and up to $2,500 to remove an underground tank.
For more information, visit this link.
CONTACT INFORMATION
If you need additional help, you're encouraged to contact your Community Action Agency (phone numbers listed above) or you can try calling 211.
For additional questions, including if you suspect fraudulent activity, email Fuel Assistance Administrator Eileen Smiglowski at eileen.smiglowski@osi.nh.gov. Her phone number is 603-271-8317.