The electric bill comes in July and it's $240. You're not doing anything different from last year, but it's $40 higher. You pay it, you complain, you move on.
What most people don't do is call their utility company and ask what it actually offers. The answer, for most customers, is a lot. State regulators require utilities to make energy assistance programs, rate discounts, and efficiency services available to residential customers. Most of these programs go unclaimed because nobody sends a flyer, and the utility isn't exactly running ads about how to pay less.
Some of what's available is genuinely free. Some of it pays you. Some of it can clear a debt you've been carrying for years. The one thing nearly all of it has in common is that you have to know to ask.
Here are 15 programs and services your utility likely already offers.
A free home energy audit
Most major utilities offer a free home energy audit, also called a home energy assessment. A certified advisor walks through your home or conducts a virtual evaluation to identify where you're wasting energy. Duke Energy, Delmarva Power, ComEd, NIPSCO, and dozens of others have active programs. Some are in-person, some are phone-based, and some are online questionnaires that take under 15 minutes. The results include a personalized list of improvements ranked by how quickly they'll pay off.
A professional audit typically covers your insulation levels, HVAC system, water heater, windows, doors, and major appliances. The auditor may use a blower door to measure air leakage and an infrared camera to find drafts. Energy efficiency upgrades identified in a home energy assessment can cut monthly energy bills by 5 to 30 percent. That's a wide range, but even the low end adds up over a year.
For virtual audits, you answer questions about your home online and receive a report with specific recommendations. Some utilities send a free efficiency kit after the audit is complete. In-person visits sometimes include on-the-spot fixes at no charge. This is the right starting point before spending money on any upgrade, because it tells you what's actually worth doing first. Search your utility's website for “energy audit” or “home energy assessment,” or call customer service and ask directly.
Free energy efficiency kits mailed to your door
Separate from the audit, many utilities will send you a free efficiency kit just for requesting one. These kits typically contain LED bulbs, a low-flow showerhead, faucet aerators, pipe insulation, and sometimes a smart power strip. Some programs include a programmable thermostat. You don't need to prove income, you don't need to schedule a visit, and there's no catch. You fill out a form online with your account number and they mail you the kit.
DTE Energy in Michigan offers a free energy efficiency kit with LED bulbs, nightlights, pipe wrap, showerheads, and water-saving aerators. Idaho Power sends customers LED bulbs, aerators, a showerhead, and a thermometer. Duke Energy households that complete a home energy assessment get a free starter kit with LEDs. Wisconsin's Focus on Energy program (serving We Energies, Alliant, and others) sends a free energy-saving pack with showerheads, LED lamps, aerators, and pipe insulation. Hawaii Energy has offered kits with potential savings of up to $160 per year.
The savings from one kit aren't dramatic on their own. Replacing your five most-used light fixtures with LEDs saves around $75 a year. But the math is simple: if you're going to buy those products anyway, getting them free is straightforward. Check your utility's website under “energy savings” or “rebates and programs,” or call and ask specifically about a free home energy kit.
Budget billing to flatten your monthly payment
Every major utility offers some version of budget billing, also called equal payment plans or levelized billing. Instead of paying whatever your actual usage was last month, you pay a fixed amount calculated from your rolling 12-month usage history. In July you pay the same as in March. Budget billing doesn't reduce your total annual cost, but it makes every bill predictable.
For households on fixed incomes or tight monthly budgets, a $240 electric bill in August can blow a carefully managed month. Budget billing eliminates that problem entirely. You pay the averaged amount each month, and at the end of 12 months your utility reconciles the account. If you used less energy than projected, you get a credit. If you used more, you owe a small catch-up payment.
Enrollment is free. It's not income-dependent. Most utilities let you sign up online in a few minutes. Some require that your account be current with no past-due balance. If you've ever been genuinely surprised by a summer cooling bill or a winter heating bill, this is a simple fix that costs nothing to use.
Low-income discount rates that cut your bill by 20 percent or more
Every state-regulated utility is required to offer reduced rates to income-qualified customers. The programs go by different names: CARE in California (20 to 35 percent off gas and electric), LIRAP in Texas, PCAP in Pennsylvania, LIRA in New York, LIRAP in other states. They're funded through rate structures, so every utility customer is already contributing to them. Most of the people who qualify aren't enrolled.
Eligibility is typically based on household income as a percentage of the federal poverty level, or on participation in programs like SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, or TANF. If you already receive any means-tested federal benefit, you're likely automatically eligible for your state's utility discount program. The income thresholds are higher than many people assume. In California, a family of four earning up to $73,240 qualifies for CARE, which reduces the electric bill automatically every month. Enrollment doesn't expire unless your income changes significantly.
If you're not sure whether your income qualifies, call your utility's customer service line and ask about their income-qualified rate programs. The federal LIHEAP program can also help you access direct bill payment assistance and weatherization services, and the application process will connect you to your state-level programs at the same time.
Senior and disability discount programs
Most utilities offer rate discounts specifically for customers over 60 or 65 or for households where someone receives disability income. These are separate from general low-income programs, and the income thresholds are often more generous. Seattle City Light's program for seniors and disabled customers offers up to 50 percent off electric, water, sewer, and garbage bills. Tacoma Public Utilities offers a 35 percent discount on power, water, and wastewater. City utilities in Illinois offer a 10 percent senior discount to households earning up to 300 percent of the federal poverty guidelines, which in 2026 is $47,880 for a single person.
Some programs don't require an income review at all, just proof of age. The discount applies automatically to every bill after enrollment, and enrollment is free. Late payment fee waivers are also commonly available for elderly customers under certain income thresholds. CPS Energy in San Antonio, for instance, waives late fees for customers 60 and older whose household income falls at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty guidelines.
If you're 60 or older and paying full rate, call your utility and ask specifically about senior rate programs or senior billing accommodations. Your state public utility commission website (search “[your state] public utility commission”) or your local Area Agency on Aging can also tell you what's available in your service territory.
Medical baseline rates for households that use medical equipment
If anyone in your household uses electrically powered medical equipment, you may qualify for a reduced electric rate regardless of your income. The qualifying equipment list typically includes CPAP machines, oxygen concentrators, motorized wheelchairs, infusion pumps, dialysis machines, ventilators, and feeding pumps. Some programs also cover households where someone has a temperature-sensitive condition, such as multiple sclerosis, scleroderma, or a compromised immune system, that requires reliable heating or air conditioning.
California's medical baseline program, for example, provides extra kilowatt-hours at the lowest available rate, reducing the cost of powering qualifying devices. Some utilities offer a flat percentage discount instead, usually 10 to 20 percent on the energy portion of the bill. Customers enrolled in the program also typically receive advance notification before planned power shutoffs, which matters a great deal when someone in the house relies on powered equipment.
These programs carry no income requirement. You need a physician's certification confirming the medical need and the device. Some certifications are permanent; others require renewal every one to four years. The utilities send renewal reminders before certification expires. If someone in your home relies on powered medical devices or has a qualifying condition, call your utility and ask about their medical baseline or life-support equipment program before the next bill cycle.
Demand response programs that pay you to use less during peak hours
This one surprises most people: your utility will pay you to briefly reduce your electricity use when the grid is under stress. During heat waves and peak demand periods, generating extra electricity costs the utility significantly more than its usual rate. Rather than build or activate expensive peaker plants, many utilities pay residential customers to dial back consumption for a few hours at a time. The payment comes as a bill credit, a check, or a seasonal rebate.
Most residential demand response programs work through a smart thermostat. You enroll your qualifying device, and during peak events (which happen a handful of times per year, typically on hot summer afternoons), the utility sends a brief temperature adjustment of 2 to 4 degrees. You can override it anytime. In exchange, you receive a seasonal payment. Alliant Energy pays an enrollment bonus plus $25 per season. National Grid, PG&E, Xcel Energy, and many others run active residential programs. Some programs offer $50 to $75 per season just for participation, regardless of how many events occur.
If you own a compatible smart thermostat, you may already be eligible to enroll online in minutes. If you don't own one, check whether your utility offers a free or heavily discounted thermostat as part of demand response enrollment. Some do. The program requires essentially nothing from you beyond initial sign-up, and the adjustment on any given event day is small enough that most people don't notice it.
Smart thermostat rebates
Most utilities offer rebates on ENERGY STAR-certified smart thermostats. The standard range is $50 to $100, though some utilities offer more. PSE&G in New Jersey offers up to $100 back after you submit a receipt online. Alliant Energy offers $50 at the point of sale through an online marketplace, or by mail-in rebate after purchase at any retailer. Duke Energy and many others offer similar amounts. The rebate typically arrives as a check or bill credit within four to six weeks of application.
Some utilities skip the mail-in rebate process entirely and run their own online marketplaces where you can buy a qualifying thermostat at a reduced price with the discount applied instantly at checkout. ComEd in Illinois and NV Energy in Nevada have offered this kind of instant-discount program. A few utilities have offered free thermostats to qualifying households, particularly when enrollment in a demand response program is part of the deal.
If you're planning to buy a smart thermostat anyway, always check your utility's rebate portal first. Search your utility's name plus “smart thermostat rebate” or look for a rebates and programs section on their website. The rebate form typically requires the date of purchase, a receipt showing the model number, and your account number. Missing the submission window (usually 90 to 120 days after purchase) forfeits the rebate, so don't wait.
Appliance rebates worth hundreds of dollars
Beyond thermostats, many utilities offer substantial rebates on major appliances. Duke Energy raised its rebate for heat pump water heaters to $700 in 2025, up from $350 the year before. PSE&G offers $250 on a qualifying induction cooktop, $75 on a riding lawn mower, and $25 on a snow blower. Utility rebate programs cover Energy Star washers and dryers, central air conditioners, heat pumps, refrigerators, and dishwashers, with rebate amounts generally ranging from $50 to several hundred dollars depending on the appliance and the utility.
These programs exist because replacing old, inefficient appliances reduces peak grid load and reduces long-run generation costs for the utility. The financial benefit is real on both sides. A heat pump water heater is already cheaper to operate than a conventional electric resistance unit, and a $700 rebate shortens the payback period considerably.
Before you buy any major appliance, look up your utility's rebate portal or the ENERGY STAR rebate finder (available at energystar.gov) and enter your ZIP code. Rebate forms require a receipt and model number, and most have a submission window of 90 to 120 days after purchase. There's no reason to leave this on the table when the application takes less than ten minutes.
Free weatherization and insulation for qualifying households
For income-qualified homeowners and renters, utility programs and the federal weatherization program often provide free home improvements including attic insulation, duct sealing, air sealing, and sometimes furnace repair or replacement. The federal Weatherization Assistance Program saves participating households an average of $372 or more per year in energy costs and has served more than 7 million homes since its start in 1976. Eligibility begins at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty line, which is $67,640 for a family of four in 2026.
Many utilities run their own weatherization programs on top of the federal one. NIPSCO in Indiana sends a technician to eligible homes for free, installs LED bulbs, duct sealing, programmable thermostats, aerators, and showerheads on the spot, and conducts a full HVAC analysis. PG&E's Energy Savings Assistance program offers no-cost attic insulation, energy-efficient refrigerators, and furnace upgrades to income-qualifying customers. Oncor in Texas offers low- to no-cost insulation and heating and cooling upgrades to households at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty line.
These programs are first-come, first-served with limited annual funding, so applying early in the calendar year matters. Renters can qualify if the landlord approves the work. Contact your utility's energy assistance line or visit their website and search for “weatherization” or “income-qualified programs” to find out what's currently available.
Arrearage management programs that forgive utility debt
If you're behind on your utility bill, there's a program at many utilities that can clear the entire debt, and nearly no one uses it because nearly no one knows it exists. Arrearage management plans work like this: you agree to pay your current monthly bill on time for 12 months. Each time you make an on-time payment, the utility forgives one-twelfth of your past-due balance. After 12 consecutive payments, the debt is gone. The maximum forgiveness varies by utility: up to $8,000 at SCE and PG&E in California, up to $12,000 per year at National Grid in Massachusetts, up to $6,000 at Versant Power in Maine, up to $4,800 annually at Liberty Utilities.
More than 21 million U.S. households are behind on their utility bills, representing a combined debt of $23 billion as of mid-2025. The programs designed to address this go largely unused. To qualify, you typically need to be enrolled in an income-qualified rate, have a past-due balance of at least $300 to $500 that is 60 to 90 days overdue, and commit to paying your current bills going forward during the program.
The utility will not call you about this. When people fall behind, utilities send disconnect notices, not program invitations. You have to call them and ask specifically about arrearage management plans or debt forgiveness programs. If you qualify for a low-income discount rate (see above) and have a past-due balance, this call is worth making before you receive a shutoff notice.
Winter shutoff protections
In most states, it is illegal for a utility to cut off your heat or electricity during winter months, even if your account is past due. Forty-two states have some form of cold-weather rule restricting disconnection during winter. Some set a calendar window (Illinois prohibits shutoffs from December 1 to March 31; Wisconsin from November 1 to April 15). Others use a temperature threshold, with protections triggered when forecasted temperatures fall below a certain point. Many states have additional protections for elderly, disabled, or seriously ill customers that extend beyond the standard window.
These protections don't activate automatically. In most states, you have to notify your utility that you're requesting protection and, in many cases, agree to a payment arrangement or apply for assistance. If you've received a shutoff notice during winter, call your utility before the stated disconnection date and ask about your state's cold-weather rule and what you need to do to stay connected. In Ohio, the winter reconnect order allows customers facing disconnection to pay no more than $175 to maintain service. In some states, seniors can qualify for extended protection through April or May.
Winter protections don't erase the debt. You'll still owe what you owe, and utilities can resume disconnection proceedings in spring. But these rules give you time to access assistance programs, apply for LIHEAP, or set up a repayment plan without losing service in the coldest months. Knowing this right exists can keep the lights and heat on when it matters most.
Free tree trimming when branches threaten power lines
Utilities are legally required to maintain safe vegetation clearance around their power lines. They do this work at their own expense, using certified arborists and line-clearance crews. If you have trees growing toward overhead distribution lines on your property, you can call your utility and request that they trim or remove those branches at no charge to you. Southern California Edison, FPL in Florida, DTE Energy in Michigan, Minnesota Power, and virtually every major utility in the country runs a vegetation management program.
The trimming is focused on power line clearance, not appearance. Crews follow national arborist standards for directional pruning, removing branches toward the main trunk and encouraging future growth away from the lines. In some cases, the utility will remove a tree entirely if it can't be safely trimmed around the lines. SRP in Arizona trims nearly 40,000 trees per year through its program. SCE runs a “makesafe” service that assesses and prunes hazardous trees at no cost. DTE Energy sends a planner to your property before work begins and notifies you by mail in advance of any crew visit.
There are limits. Most utilities handle the main span between poles but not the service drop line that runs from the pole to your home (that section is typically the homeowner's responsibility). The work is also driven by safety and reliability, not by your landscaping preferences. But for a large overhanging tree near distribution lines, this can save you the cost of a professional tree service call. Contact your utility's customer service line and ask about vegetation management or tree trimming requests.
Free shade trees
Some utilities give you trees. Salt River Project in Arizona distributes up to two free desert-adapted shade trees per customer each year through a program run with a local environmental nonprofit. Customers attend a brief virtual workshop, then pick up their saplings at a distribution event. SRP has given away more than 57,000 shade trees since the program launched in 2012 and distributes more than 5,000 trees per year. Keys Energy Services in Florida does an annual giveaway with 1,200 trees available to customers on a first-come, first-served basis, a program the utility has run since 1994.
The reason utilities offer this is direct: strategically placed shade trees can reduce cooling costs by up to 25 percent by lowering the temperature inside a home and reducing the load on air conditioners. Utilities benefit when their customers use less electricity during peak summer hours. Shade trees planted on the west, east, and south sides of a home, or near air conditioning units, deliver the largest energy reduction.
These programs are more common in hot-climate service areas where air conditioning drives peak load. In other regions, similar programs may offer rebates or nursery vouchers toward tree purchases rather than free trees. To find out what your utility offers, search your utility's name plus “shade tree program” or call their energy efficiency line. The SRP program is open to any residential customer who attends the workshop, which is available in English and Spanish.
Time-of-use rates that reward shifting when you use energy
Standard utility billing charges you the same price per kilowatt-hour whether you run the dishwasher at 2 p.m. on a Tuesday or midnight on Sunday. Time-of-use (TOU) rate plans charge less during off-peak hours (typically nights, weekends, and spring and fall mornings) and more during peak demand periods (usually weekday afternoons). The rate itself doesn't change the total energy you use, but shifting some tasks to cheaper hours can lower your bill without reducing comfort.
The savings potential is real for many households. A family that runs laundry, the dishwasher, and an electric vehicle charger during off-peak hours instead of peak afternoon hours can save $120 to $200 per year without using any less electricity. In California, summer peak rates can reach 74 cents per kilowatt-hour during late afternoon, while off-peak rates are roughly half that. The differential is smaller in most other states, but the direction is the same. If your household is flexible about when you run high-draw appliances, TOU plans reward that flexibility.
TOU rates are now available from most major utilities and are the default rate structure for some, including PG&E in California. Enrolling is free and switching back to a standard rate is allowed if the plan doesn't suit your usage patterns. Before you switch, look at your actual usage: if you work from home and run appliances throughout the day, TOU may not benefit you as much as it would someone whose house sits mostly empty on weekday afternoons. Most utilities offer a free rate comparison tool that estimates your savings based on your past billing history.
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