Springs Utilities offers winter utility bill assistance

Ashley Eberhardt
·2 min read

(COLORADO SPRINGS) — With recent cold temperatures, Colorado Springs Utilities (Springs Utilities) customers may notice an increase in their energy use. To help with winter heating bills, Springs Utilities said it is offering payment assistance, as well as rebates and energy-saving tips.

Now through April, eligible customers can apply for the Low-income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP). This is a federally funded program designed to help low-income households with winter home heating costs. Call Pikes Peak United Way at 2-1-1 to apply.

Springs Utilities said last heating season (Nov. 2022-April 2023), 9,232 customer households received LEAP assistance totaling more than $5 million for winter heating bills and $2 million for water bills. Assistance for water bills is not available this upcoming season for LEAP.

These additional options are available to Springs Utilities customers year-round: 

  • Project COPE provides utilities payment assistance to anyone struggling financially due to a personal crisis or emergency, regardless of income.

  • Springs Utilities and the Energy Resource Center provide energy- and water-efficiency home improvements for qualifying residential customers through the Home Efficiency Assistance Program. HEAP participants receive in-home energy and water audits, which are used to make home improvements. To qualify, customers must own the home they live in and meet income guidelines. In 2023, for example, a household of four with an annual income of $71,122 can qualify. Visit the Energy Resource Center for details.

Payment options:

  • Budget Billing is a free program that helps customers budget expenses because payments are spread evenly throughout the year. Budget Billing lessens the impact on customers’ budgets during the winter and summer months when utility use is high.

  • Pick My Payment Date allows customers the flexibility to choose a payment date that works best.

Energy savings tips

These low-cost or no-cost tips around the home can help save energy and money:

  • Change the direction of ceiling fans. During colder months ceiling fans should rotate clockwise to force warm air downward.

  • Apply caulk or weatherstripping to seal leaks around windows and doors to keep the warm air in and the cold air out. (Make sure it’s above 45 degrees to apply caulking.)

  • Open curtains on south-facing windows during the day to allow sunlight to naturally heat the home and close them at night to reduce the chill from cold windows.

  • Keep the fireplace damper closed unless a fire is burning.

  • Look for other opportunities throughout your home with a self-assessment that can help you find problems.

  • Check the furnace filter and change it when dirty. A clean filter allows the furnace to run more efficiently.

  • Set the thermostat as low as is comfortable at night or when away from home.

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