Texas COVID-19 Electricity Relief Program – Bill Payment Assistance - Deleted
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Texas consumers have a new financial backstop to avoid electricity disconnection during the COVID-19 coronavirus quarantine. If you need help paying bills, the Texas COVID-19 Electricity Relief Program can help. This program is designed to help those who can’t pay bills due to unemployment or economic hardship caused by COVID-19.
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Cristina Gallardo
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04-17-2020
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04-17-2020
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04-17-2021
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How To Contact
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PO Box 4060
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Killeen
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TX
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More Information
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Public Utility Commission of Texas
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76540
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Helpful Links
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Detailed Information
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The Texas COVID-19 Electricity Relief Program (CERP) helps consumers who are having trouble paying bills due to job loss or other related hardship.
There are two aspects of the CERP program:
- Retail Electric Providers (REPs) must offer a deferred payment plan to any residential customer who requests one, regardless of their previous payment history.
- REPs must suspend electricity disconnections for residential customers who have been added to the state’s unemployment and low income list due to the effects of COVID-19.
If you have applied for unemployment or are low income, you are not automatically qualified for CERP list. You must apply separately for this relief program.
Residential customers that qualify for unemployment or that are low income qualify for the Texas COVID-19 Electricity Relief Plan.
Contact the state’s Low Income List Administrator (LILA) at to enroll. This number is staffed 24/7.
You can also through the Public Utility Commission of Texas.
When you apply, you will need to provide LILA your name as it appears on the electricity bill, your service address and your electricity account number with your REP (if available).
After you have called LILA and qualified, you will be provisionally added to the CERP-eligible list.
Within 7 days, the REP will be notified that they cannot disconnect your power if you are unable to pay the bill.
You should also contact your electricity provider directly to notify them of your CERP status.
To be on the safe side, if you have a bill due within 10 days of your application for CERP, contact your REP immediately to discuss payment arrangements.
You’ll need to provide LILA with proof of your unemployment status within 30 days of applying.
Within 30 days of your call to LILA and your provisional approval for CERP, you’ll need to provide documentation of your unemployment benefits approval from the Texas Workforce Commission.
You can submit a copy of your unemployment benefit approval, along with a copy of your electricity bill, to:
Fax: 1-877-215-8018
Mail: P.O. Box 4060, Killeen, Texas 76540-4060
Email:Once approved for the Texas COVID-19 Electricity Relief Program, you will remain on the program for up to six months.
During that time, your electricity provider cannot disconnect your electricity for non-payment. However, unpaid bills will continue to accrue.
Yes and no. And this is very important to understand.
Once you are on a deferred payment arrangement, you will not be able to shop for a new electricity provider.
You will have a “switch-hold” placed on your account. You will not be able to switch to a new electricity provider until your bill is paid in full.
However… and this is a very key point…
You can be on CERP, and be protected from disconnection, without being on a deferred payment program.
Confusing? Yes. And it makes the Retail Electricity Providers nervous. Because once you are on CERP, they have to accept you as a customer. Your CERP qualification means they have to waive any deposit and take you as a customer. That makes it super easy to switch providers and leave an outstanding balance. (Please don’t do that… it will leave you with a trail of bad debt and impact your credit.)
We recommend that before you apply for CERP or a payment arrangement, make sure you have a secure fixed rate plan at a competitive rate.
You do not want to be on a variable month to month rate during this time. If you are not on a contract with your electricity provider, you are on an off-contract variable rate. Off-contract rates can be 30-50% higher than current electricity offers.
ElectricityPlans.com is a comparison site that allows you to shop for a cheap electricity rate. . Then enter your electricity usage under “Advanced Search” to find the best plan for your home.
If you qualify for CERP, you will still receive a monthly bill from your electricity provider.
You should pay as much of the bill as you are able to pay.
Your Retail Electric Supplier will then apply for a partical reimbursement from the COVID-19 Electricity Relief Fund. The CERP Fund will reimburse your electricity provider $0.04/kwh (4¢/kWh) toward your bill. This helps ensure that REPs stay in business and able to serve their customers. And it helps provide some relief on your bill.
You will still owe the remainder of this bill, but you will not be disconnected while on CERP or while on a deferred payment plan.
After the CERP program ends, you will need to work with your electricity provider to pay the remaining balance.
Unfortunately, there are no programs in place for self-employed people who do not pay into the state unemployment insurance pool.
Your best bet is to call your electricity provider and request a payment arrangement.
Under the Texas COVID-19 Electricity Relief Plan, your electricity provider MUST allow you to make a deferred payment arrangement. And that’s regardless of your payment status or past payment history.
When you make a deferred payment arrangement, you protect your account from disconnection for non-payment.
Remember, once you enter a deferred payment arrangement, your account will be on a switch hold. That means you will not be able to switch to another electricity provider until you satisfy your debt.
If you live in an area of Texas served by a deregulated utility, make sure you before opting for a deferred payment plan. Deregulated Texas utilities include: Oncor, CenterPoint, AEP Texas Central, AEP Texas North, and Texas New Mexico Power.
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Eligibility Information
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