Citizens Energy
Heat Assistance Programs

What are Citizens Energy heat assistance programs?

Am I eligible?

What benefits will I get?

How do I apply?

How long does it take?

Useful links

What are Citizens Energy heat assistance programs?

Citizens Energy heat assistance programs help low-income people who cannot afford to pay their heating bills. Citizens Energy has a program for people who use heating oil, and a program for people who heat with natural gas.

• The Citizens Energy Oil Heat Program offers free heating oil to people in need. Each eligible household is allowed a one-time delivery per heating season of 100 gallons of home heating oil for free. The Oil Heat Program is a joint effort between Citizens Energy Corporation, CITGO Petroleum, Massachusetts fuel oil dealers, fuel assistance agencies, and the MASSCAP Directors Association.

• The Citizens Energy / Distrigas Heat Assistance Program gives a $150 utility bill credit to eligible households who heat with natural gas. The program is run by Citizens Energy and funded by Distrigas.

Citizens Energy Corporation is a non-profit company started by Joseph P. Kennedy II in 1979. The Citizens Energy heat assistance programs have helped thousands of low-income and elderly families in Massachusetts.

Am I eligible?

You are eligible for the Oil Heat Program or Distrigas Gas Heat Program if you have a financial hardship and need help paying your heating bills. There are no strict income limits and no citizenship requirements. You do not need proof of immigration status.

You must meet these requirements to be eligible:

• You are facing a financial hardship.
• You are not eligible for Fuel Assistance (LIHEAP), or you have used up your LIHEAP benefits.
• You heat with oil, kerosene, or natural gas.
• You are a resident of Massachusetts.
• You have not received financial help from Citizens Energy during this heating season.

What benefits will I get?

For the Oil Heat Program, you will get a voucher for a one-time delivery of 100 gallons of home heating oil for free. You must give your voucher to your oil dealer when you get your delivery.

For the Distrigas Gas Heat Program, you will get a $150 credit on your gas utility bill.

How do I apply?

Oil Heat Program:

Citizens Energy has not yet announced when they will begin taking applications for the 2009-2010 oil heat program. The program will probably begin in December. Please check back.

For more information, see Oil Heat Program on the Citizens Energy web site.

Distrigas Gas Heat Program:

You should call 1-866-GAS-9918 (1-866-427-9918) and leave a message with your name, address, and phone number. Citizens Energy will mail an application to you within 24 hours.

Once you receive the application, you must fill it out and mail it back to Citizens Energy along with a copy of your gas utility bill. For more information, see Distrigas - How to Apply on the Citizens Energy web site.

How long does it take?

Citizen Energy will notify you about your oil heat application within 3 weeks by mail. If you are approved, they will send you a voucher that is good for 100 free gallons of home heating oil.

To use your voucher, you should call your oil dealer and schedule a delivery. You must schedule a delivery within 15 days of the day you get your voucher. The last date for deliveries is April 30, 2009. You must give your voucher to your oil dealer when you get your delivery.

Useful links

These links are external links to web sites that are not part of MassResources.org. When you click on these links, you will leave our site. Click "Back" on your browser to return.

1. Citizens Energy Corporation
   Official site of the non-profit Citizens Energy Corporation, with information about the Oil Heat Program, Citizens Energy/Distrigas Heat Assistance Program, Citizens Health, and other charitable programs. Includes:
    
   
   • Oil Heat Program
   • Distrigas Heat Assistance Program
   • Information for Oil Dealers

Citizens Energy Heat Assistance Programs section last updated on 10/13/09