Cascade Home » Customer Service » Low-Income Assistance Programs

    Energy assistance for low-income households

    Energy Assistance Funds

    Cascade Arrearage Relief Energy Savings (CARES)

    If you are having difficulty paying your natural gas bill, Cascade Natural Gas and our Community Action agency partners are available to help with solutions provided through the new CARES bill payment assistance program.

    Applying for CARES

    Applying for CARES is easy. You may simply self-declare your household income and the number of residents in your home to establish your eligibility.

    As a Washington customer, you may apply for available assistance by completing an online application form. After which, a Community Action agency representative will contact you.

    You may also contact your local Community Action agency, all of which are listed below.

    Alternatively, you may download and print a hard-copy application: ENGLISH APPLICATION | SPANISH APPLICATION

    Eligibility for CARES

    Eligibility for the CARES program is based on your household income and the number of residents in your home. If your net household income is 200% or less of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) or 80% or less of the Area Median Income (AMI), you qualify for CARES.

    Income eligibility for CARES is based on net income rather than gross income since net income better represents a household’s accessible cash for living expenses. To determine your net household income, apply any discounts as listed for income type in Table 1 below.

    CARES Income Breakdown

    Federal Poverty Guidelines may be found at this site. To determine if you are eligible, compare your net household income with the income provided for the number of residents in your household.

    Cascade understands that determining eligibility is a multi-step process that may be complex, and for this reason, Cascade encourages you to call a Community Action agency to walk you through the process or to answer your questions.

    CARES Bill Discounts

    The energy bill discounts and the arrearage relief grants are provided based on your income level. Table 2 shows the energy discounts and, if applicable, the arrearage relief grants available based on your percentage of FPL or AMI.

    CARES Tier Levels

    Winter Help

    Winter Help is a program funded by customer and Company donations. Winter Help has helped more than 10,000 families since the program started in 1989.

    Cascade matches each dollar donated to Winter Help up to a yearly total of $50,000. Contributions are tax deductible and are guaranteed to be used in your community.

    If you would like to contribute a one-time donation or make a monthly pledge, please complete the Winter Help form and mail it either with your gas payment or mail it with your donation to:

    Cascade Natural Gas
    Winter Help
    8113 W Grandridge Blvd
    Kennewick, WA 99336

    If you are including your donation on your natural gas payment stub, please remember to check the box noted on your stub for your donation to be applied correctly.

    Winter Help is registered under the Charitable Solicitations Act in Washington. Financial disclosure information may be obtained at 360-725-0378.

    Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

    The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) provides low-income households with financial grants to be applied toward their energy bills. You can find out if you are eligible for this program and apply for help at one of the Community Action agencies listed below. Please note, these income guidelines are updated periodically, so be sure to check back regularly.

    • Income guidelines for LIHEAP for Washington are found here
    • The Washington LIHEAP brochure provides more information, including income guidelines, essential energy facts, and contact information in your area
    cascade natural gas energy assistance
    cascade natural gas weatherization program

    Weatherization Assistance

    Cascade is pleased to partner with Community Action agencies in offering free home weatherization and energy efficiency improvements to income-qualified residential dwellings heated with natural gas. Please contact your Community Action agency for additional information or to apply for weatherization assistance.

    Your Community Action agency will qualify you, perform an energy savings review, and install the energy efficiency and weatherization measures in your home. Potential improvements may include:

    • Insulation in attics, walls, and floors
    • Insulation around duct work and hot water pipes
    • Air sealing to prevent leaks, especially around windows and doors
    • Heating and cooling system cleaning, tuning, and repairing
    • Installation of high efficiency natural gas furnace and hot water heaters

    Community Action Agencies

    Aberdeen
    Coastal Community Action Program
    Application available on their website or by phone
    101 E Market St.
    Aberdeen, WA  98520-0304
    800-828-4883
    360-533-5100

    Bellingham
    Opportunity Council
    Application available by phone
    1111 Cornwall Avenue
    Bellingham, WA  98225
    360-255-2192

    Bremerton
    Kitsap Community Resources
    Application available by phone
    1201 Park Avenue
    Bremerton, WA  98337
    360-479-1507

    Everett
    Snohomish County Human Service Department
    Application available by phone or online by clicking here.
    3000 Rockefeller Avenue
    Everett, WA  98201
    425-388-3880

    Lacey
    Community Action Council of Lewis, Mason & Thurston Counties
    Application available on their website or by phone
    807 W Railroad Ave
    Shelton, WA  98584
    800-878-5235
    360-426-9726

    Kennewick/Pasco
    Community Action Connections (CAC)
    Application available on their website
    720 W. Court Street
    Pasco, WA  99301
    509-545-4042
    Prosser: 509-786-3379

    Longview
    Lower Columbia Community Action Program
    Application available on their website
    1526 Commerce Avenue
    Longview, WA  98632
    800-383-2101
    360-425-3430

    Moses Lake
    OIC of Washington
    Application available by phone
    309 5th Avenue
    Moses Lake, WA  98837
    Appointment line: 509-955-7100
    Reception line: 509-765-9206

    Mount Vernon/Burlington
    Community Action Agency of Skagit County
    Application available on their website or by phone
    (8:30a, first Wednesday of each month)
    160 Cascade Place
    Burlington, WA 98233
    360-428-1011

    Oak Harbor
    Opportunity Council of Oak Harbor
    Application available by phone
    231 SE Barrington Dr, Ste 100
    Oak Harbor, WA  98277
    360-679-6577

    Toppenish
    NW Community Action Center
    Application available by phone
    PO Box 831
    706 Rentschler Lane
    Toppenish, WA  98948
    509-865-7630

    Walla Walla
    Blue Mountain Action Council
    Application available on their website or by phone
    8 E Cherry Street
    Walla Walla, WA  99362
    509-529-4980

    Wenatchee
    Chelan-Douglas Community Action Council
    Application available by phone
    620 Lewis Street
    Wenatchee, WA  98801
    509-662-6156

    Yakima
    OIC of Washington
    Application available by phone
    815 Fruitvale Boulevard
    Yakima, WA  98902
    Appointment line: 509-955-7100
    Reception line: 509-452-7145

    Additional Resources

    Dial 2-1-1

    211 works a bit like 911. Calls to 211 are routed to a local or regional calling center. The 211 center’s referral specialists have databases of resources available from private and public health and human service agencies. They match callers’ needs to available resources and may directly link or refer callers to an agency or organization that can provide assistance.

    Types of Referrals Offered by 211 

    • Basic Human Needs Resources – including food and clothing banks, shelters, rent assistance, and utility assistance.
    • Physical and Mental Health Resources – including health insurance programs, Medicaid and Medicare, maternal health resources, health insurance programs for children, medical information lines, crisis intervention services, support groups, counseling, and drug and alcohol intervention and rehabilitation.
    • Work Support – including financial assistance, job training, transportation assistance and education programs.
    • Access to Services in Non-English Languages – including language translation and interpretation services to help non-English-speaking people find public resources (Foreign language services vary by location.)
    • Support for Older Americans and Persons with Disabilities – including adult day care, community meals, respite care, home health care, transportation, and homemaker services.
    • Children, Youth and Family Support – including childcare, after-school programs, educational programs for low-income families, family resource centers, summer camps and recreation programs, mentoring, tutoring, and protective services.
    • Suicide Prevention – referral to suicide prevention help organizations.

    New! Cascade Natural Gas Oregon Energy Discount Program (EDP)

    cascade natural gas energy discount program

    Effective October 01, 2022, qualifying Cascade Natural Gas Oregon customers may receive a discount on their bill. The discount amount will be calculated using the tiers represented in the table below using Federal Poverty Levels (FPL)/State Median Income (SMI). Customers enrolled in the EDP will receive benefits for up to 24 months and will need to re-qualify at the end of their 24 month term.

    To qualify for Cascade’s EDP, complete an online application at customer.cngc.com, call Customer Service at 888.522.1130, or contact your local Community Action Agency (CAA). A list of CAAs can be found at the bottom of this page.

    oregon low income bill assistance oliba

    Oregon Low Income Bill Assistance Program qualified customers may receive:

    • Benefits of up to 90% of their past due balance
    • A rate discount of up to 95% for 24 months*

    There is no fee to apply or participate and no paperwork is required. All you need is an account with a past due balance, your monthly household income, and the number in the household.

    *Customers may reapply for the rate discount every 24 months. The 24-month period may reset when the customer moves and establishes a new account.

    RATE OF DISCOUNT BASED ON INCOME TABLE

    *Federal Poverty Level (FPL), State Median Income (SMI).

    oliba

    Apply today through a local Community Action Agency listed below or by calling Cascade Natural Gas Customer Service at 888-522-1130.

    LIHEAP

    The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps low-income households pay part of their energy bills. You can find out if you’re eligible for this program and apply for help at one of the state agencies below. Please note, these guidelines are updated periodically, so be sure to check back regularly.

    Income guidelines for LIHEAP

    Our LIHEAP brochure will also provide income guidelines, essential energy assistance facts and contact information in your area:

    cascade natural gas energy assistance
    cascade natural gas weatherization program

    Weatherization Assistance

    Cascade Natural Gas is pleased to partner with the Weatherization Assistance Programs in Oregon. These community action and low income agencies offer free home weatherization and energy efficiency improvements to income-qualified residential dwellings heated with natural gas. Please contact your Energy Assistance Agency for additional information or to apply for weatherization assistance.

    Participant qualification, energy reviews, and installation are performed by a community action agency. Potential improvements (following a complete home energy review) include:

    • Insulation in attics, walls, and floors
    • Insulation around duct work and hot water pipes
    • Sealing air leaks in the building, especially around windows and doors
    • Clean, tune, and repair heating and cooling systems and, if necessary, replace existing systems with high-efficiency natural gas furnaces and water heaters

    Energy Assistance Funds

    Oregon:  If you are a customer in Oregon, funds are collected through a Public Purpose Charge (PPC) each month on your gas bill.  These funds are used for conservation and renewable energy projects, schools, low-income weatherization, low-income housing and low-income utility bill assistance. Oregon customers may apply for available funds through the Energy Assistance Agencies listed below.

    Winter Help

    Winter Help is our own program for helping Cascade Natural Gas customers. We’ve helped more than 10,000 families since starting the program in 1989.

    When you contribute to Winter Help, we will match each dollar donated up to a total of $50,000. Contributions are tax-deductible and guaranteed to be used in your community.

    If you would like to contribute a one-time donation or a monthly pledge amount, please complete the Winter Help form and mail it with gas payment or mail the completed form with your donation to:

    Cascade Natural Gas
    Winter Help
    8113 W Grandridge Blvd
    Kennewick, WA 99336

    If you are including your donation on your payment stub, please remember to check the box, as noted on your stub, for your donation to be applied correctly.

    cascade natural gas energy assistance funds

    Energy and Weatherization Assistance Agencies

    Community Connections
    Call for an appointment
    2810 Cedar Street
    Baker City, OR 97814-2233
    541-523-6591

    NeighborImpact
    Application available at NeighborImpact locations, on their website, by phone, or email
    For an application:

    Telephone:541-504-2155

    Email: [email protected]


    Klamath Lake Community Action Services (KLCAS)
    Application available on their website
    2316  South 6th St., Suite C
    Klamath Falls, OR 97601
    866-665-6438


    CINA
    Community in Action

    Application available on their website
    915 SW 3rd Ave.
    Ontario, OR 97914-2124
    541-889-9555


    CAPECO
    Community Action Program of East Central Oregon
    Call for an appointment or application available on their website, by phone, email, or by mail
    721 SE 3rd, Suite D
    Pendleton, OR 97801
    800-752-1139

    Dial 2-1-1

    211 works a bit like 911.  Calls to 211 are routed by the local telephone company to a local or regional calling center.  The 211 center’s referral specialists receive requests from callers, access databases of resources available from private and public health and human service agencies, match the callers’ needs to available resources, and link or refer them directly to an agency or organization that can help.

    Types of Referrals Offered by 211 

    • Basic Human Needs Resources – including food and clothing banks, shelters, rent assistance, and utility assistance.
    • Physical and Mental Health Resources – including health insurance programs, Medicaid and Medicare, maternal health resources, health insurance programs for children, medical information lines, crisis intervention services, support groups, counseling, and drug and alcohol intervention and rehabilitation.
    • Work Support – including financial assistance, job training, transportation assistance and education programs.
    • Access to Services in Non-English Languages – including language translation and interpretation services to help non-English-speaking people find public resources (Foreign language services vary by location.)
    • Support for Older Americans and Persons with Disabilities – including adult day care, community meals, respite care, home health care, transportation and homemaker services.
    • Children, Youth and Family Support – including child care, after-school programs, educational programs for low-income families, family resource centers, summer camps and recreation programs, mentoring, tutoring and protective services.
    • Suicide Prevention – referral to suicide prevention help organizations.