Last week, the Texas Department of Housing & Community Affairs (TDHCA) launched a new Texas Utility Help (TXUH) website, portal, and application process to help eligible low-income Texas homeowners and renters pay their utility bills, including electric, propane, natural gas, water, and wastewater.

 

“We launched Texas Utility Help at the state level to make it easier for even more Texans to access and benefit from utility assistance programs,” said Bobby Wilkinson, TDHCA executive director. “The new program uses a streamlined online application process so that any eligible Texas household can apply for both energy and water bill assistance in a single form.” 

 

Texas Utility Help has over $50 million ready for Texas homeowners and renters in need. The statewide program works to distribute funding from the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and the federal Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP), providing an additional helping hand to the local Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program (CEAP) community agencies. So, Texans can either use the new statewide online application or go through their local CEAPs as they have done for years.

 

Texas homeowners and renters may apply for Texas Utility Help if their household income is at or below 150% of Federal Poverty Income Guidelines and they meet other eligibility criteria. The maximum household income depends on the number of people in the household. Full eligibility criteria can be found at TexasUtilityHelp.com. 

 

Qualified applicants can receive assistance for their total past due amounts for electricity, natural gas, and propane, plus up to $2,400 in prospective payments. All payments are issued directly to the utility or propane company on behalf of the applicant. 

 

For more information and questions, the call center is staffed Monday- Friday, 8 a.m. - 6 p.m., and can be reached toll-free at 855-566-2057. 

Last week, TPGA sent an alert notifying members of the final rule changes being adopted by the Railroad Commission of Texas, and in upcoming weeks, we will take some of the most impactful and highlight them one by one.

After July 18, 2022, cylinders stored in a ventilated cage will no longer need additional protection unless they are horizontally stored and frequented by the public.

The rule change results from years of petitioning by TPGA to the Commission and a cylinder crash protection study by the National Propane Gas Association.

The cage acting as sufficient protection has been recognized by the International Fire Code since 2015 and the NFPA 58 since 2017 as a result of the NPGA's cylinder crash protection study.

The new rule was only going to allow cylinders vertically stored not to have additional protection; however, TPGA was able to petition the RRC and supply the RRC with additional data to extend that exception to forklift cylinders stored in cages in areas not frequented by the public.

Interested in the other rule changes going into effect on the 18th? In case you missed our comprehensive member alert, TPGA gave an analysis of some of the most significant rule changes last week. Access the member alert below.