Utility Assistance Programs

One-time Bill Credits

The application period for one-time credits — aimed at helping ease the burden of the January 2023 high gas bills — has ended.

If you submitted an application, you will be hearing from us soon.

Qualifying customers are encouraged to enroll in the programs below to receive ongoing bill assistance benefits.

Questions? Call us at (562) 570-5700

Residential Gas Assistance Credit

Long Beach residential gas customers struggling to pay drastically high winter bills can now apply for a one-time $100 credit. Any customer can apply for the Residential Gas Assistance Credit.

To receive the credit, a customer must fill out an application and sign, under penalty of perjury, attesting that higher than normal gas utility bills have caused them financial strain.

The credit will be applied on a first-come, first-served basis until $575,000 in allocated funds are exhausted.

Apply

Applicant must:

  • Be the primary utility account holder
  • Not qualify for the Low Income Senior/Disability Discount Program or the Low Income Gas Discount Program
  • Certify under penalty of perjury that they are experiencing financial hardship and, given normal expenses, need assistance paying their bill

Please fill and sign this application (Spanish)(Khmer)(Tagalog) and email it to billing@lbutilities.org or mail to:

Long Beach Utilities Billing

2400 E. Spring St.

Long Beach, CA 90806

*A one-time $100 credit will be applied directly to the utility bill account, as funds remain available.

*Note: If you have difficulty with the PDF form, you can request a hard copy be mailed to you and then take a photo of your completed form and email it to billing@lbutilities.org.

Flexible Payment Plan

Those struggling to pay off accumulated debt or new high utility bills can sign up for a flexible plan to pay their bill over time — up to 36 months.

Active gas and water services will remain uninterrupted as long as the conditions of the payment arrangement are honored.

Apply here.

Low Income Gas Discount Program

Long Beach Utilities is here to help families in need. Qualified residential customers can apply for the Low Income Gas Discount Program to receive a 20 percent discount on their monthly natural gas bill. The discount will be applied to your account as soon as the application is processed and approved by Long Beach Utilities.

  • Who qualifies?
    • Residents:
      • Your city utility bill must be in your name and must be for your primary address
      • You must not be claimed as a dependent on another person’s tax return, other than your spouse
      • Your annual household income does not exceed the values outlined in the chart below
    • Nonprofit group living facilities:
      • Facility must have a separate gas meter
      • Residents of the facility must meet household income requirements for a single person household
      • 70 percent of natural gas used at the facility must be for residential purposes
      • Facility must provide most recent form 501 (c)(3), current California adult residential facility license or condition use permit for a homeless shelter

You can also qualify if you or someone in your household participates in any of these programs:

      • Medicaid or Medi-Cal
      • CalFresh/SNAP (food stamps)
      • Healthy Families A&B
      • CalWORKS
      • Women, Infants & Children (WIC)
      • National School Lunch Program (NSLP)
      • Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
      • Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
      • Tribal TANF
      • Head Start Income Eligible (Tribal only)
      • Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance
  • Benefits
    • 20 percent discount on gas charges
  • Required documents

Please be prepared to submit one of the following with your application:

    • Proof of household income, such as your most recent W-2, Social Security benefits letter
    • Proof of participation in a qualifying program listed above

Apply

You can fill out an online application here.

You can also complete the fillable application form and email it to billing@lbutilities.org.

Or print the form (Spanish)(Khmer)(Tagalog) and mail it to:

Long Beach Utilities Billing

2400 E. Spring St.

Long Beach, CA 90806

Low Income Senior or Disability Discount Program

Utilities is here to help seniors and those with disabilities. Qualified customers can get an exemption from paying the city’s 5 percent utility users tax, or UUT.

  • Who qualifies?
    • Customers age 62 or older who meet income requirements (see chart) or who have otherwise qualified for the UUT Exemption Program
    • Customers with a qualifying disability who meet income requirements (see chart) or who have otherwise qualified for the UUT Exemption Program
  • Benefits
    • 20 percent discount on gas charges
    • Monthly credit to water service charge
    • First six billing units of water usage at no charge
    • Reduced refuse/recycling rate
    • Exemption from UUT on gas, water, electric and telephone bills
  • Required documents
    • Scanned or printed copy of photo ID (seniors)
    • Proof of enrollment in the federal Supplemental Security Income program
    • Proof of household income, such as your most recent W2, Social Security benefits letter

Apply

To apply, complete the fillable application and email it to billing@lbutilities.org.

Or you can print and fill out a paper application (Spanish)(Khmer)(Tagalog) and mail to:

Long Beach Utilities Billing

2400 E. Spring St.

Long Beach, CA 90806

You can also fill out your application in person at any Long Beach senior center. Please call (562) 570-3533 for more information.

Medical Heating Allowance Program

Long Beach Utilities is here to help those suffering from serious medical conditions. The Medical Heating Allowance Program allows additional therms of usage at the lower Tier I rate for individuals with qualifying medical conditions.

Those who require life-saving medical equipment that uses natural gas can also qualify for the therm allowance, plus other benefits.

  • Who qualifies?
    • Customers with a qualifying condition:
      • Paraplegic
      • Quadriplegic
      • Hemiplegic
      • Multiple Sclerosis
      • Scleroderma
      • Life threatening Illness
      • Compromised Immune System
      • Emphysema and requires positive pressure breathing apparatus
      • Had pneumonia 3 or more times in 12 months as a result of chronic illness
      • Paralysis of 2 or more extremities
      • Life Support Equipment Required
  • Benefits
    • Additional allowance of therms of gas usage at the lower Tier 1 rate
  • Required documents
    • Verification form signed by your physician

Apply

Complete the fillable application, including the form signed by your physician, and email it to billing@lbutilities.org.

Or you can print and fill out a paper application (Spanish)(Khmer)(Tagalog) and mail to:

Long Beach Utilities Billing

2400 E. Spring St.

Long Beach, CA 90806

Low Income Household Water Assistance Program

The Low Income Household Water Assistance Program, or LIHWAP, is a temporary program that offers assistance for low-income Californians to help manage their residential water utility costs amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Utility customers are required to submit an application and be approved to receive relief funds. Visit the LIHWAP program webpage or call (888) 351-4061 for more information.

Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP, is a federally funded program that assists qualifying, low-income households in paying their winter gas and electric bills. A bill does not have to be delinquent for qualified persons to apply for assistance. LIHEAP runs from October 1st through Sept. 30 each year. Customers can apply for LIHEAP assistance once each program year.

To apply, visit the LIHEAP program webpage or contact:

Long Beach Community Action Partnership (LBCAP)
117 W Victoria Street, Long Beach, CA 90805
(888)351-4061

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