Low Income, Weatherization & Other Consumer Assistance

NV Energy

• Green Cross (Life Support Equipment): Once enrolled, you will receive advance notification of scheduled electric outages for service maintenance and, in the event of an unexpected power outage, NV Energy will take the steps necessary to restore power as quickly as possible. Because of unexpected outages caused by bad weather or equipment failures, NV Energy asks people who rely on life-support devices to protect themselves against occasional interruptions of service by having an alternate power supply (please see NV Energy's information on generator safety).
• Third Party Protection Plan: The Third Party Protection Plan is intended to protect customers who may be elderly, disabled, ill, require life-support equipment or who have language and reading problems. It can also be beneficial for persons who live alone or who are absent from home for extended periods of time.  When you are on the Third Party Protection Plan and you receive a termination of service notice, NV Energy mails a copy of the notice to the third party you designate. This third party can be anyone you know -- a relative, friend, clergyman, social agency, civic organization -- any person you choose.

Southwest Gas

• Medically Fragile Household: If you or someone in your household has a qualifying medical condition, you may be eligible for priority natural gas service restoration if there is an interruption in your service due to an outage.
• Third Party Notification Program: This program allows a friend or relative to be notified in case of a delinquent bill. While the third party is not obligated to pay the bill, they can often help resolve the problem before service is discontinued.

Nevada Office of the Attorney General

• Bureau of Consumer Protection: The Attorney General's Bureau of Consumer Protection is under the direction of Nevada's Consumer Advocate, and has the statutory authority under Nevada's consumer protection laws to prosecute criminal and civil cases. The BCP currently enforces laws and reviews complaints in these areas:
  • Deceptive Trade - Enforcement of deceptive trade practices helps to prevent consumers from being injured or deceived in consumer transactions.
  • Unfair Trade Practices (Antitrust) - Enforcement of unfair trade practices helps to reduce the economic harm to consumers as a result of undue market power.
  • Utility/Energy Advocacy - participation in utility rate proceedings helps to ensure ratepayers receive reliable utility service at a reasonable cost.
   

Department of Business and Industry

• Nevada Consumer Affairs: Nevada Consumer Affairs helps people that have experienced a financial hardship or loss because of fraud or a deceptive business practice in Nevada. We also provide guidance and resources to help you avoid these traps before you put your money at risk.

Nevada Division of Welfare & Supportive Services

• Energy Assistance Program: The Energy Assistance Program (EAP) provides a supplement to assist qualifying low-income Nevadans with the cost of home energy.

NV Energy

• Project REACH: The NV Energy Foundation provides funding to support Project REACH, administered by United Way of Southern Nevada. The utility assistance program is provided to residential customers, age 62 and older who meet income guidelines. Project REACH is available to help pay a past-due energy bill once during a 12-month period. Project REACH is available until funds are exhausted.
• Special Assistance Fund for Energy (SAFE): The SAFE program is administered by United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierra (UWNNS) and serves those in need in northern Nevada. The SAFE program supplements state and federal low-income energy assistance programs. It is intended as a gap-filling effort for individuals who need financial assistance to keep their utilities operating.

Southwest Gas

• Energy Share: If you are a current Southwest Gas customer and have encountered unexpected financial difficulties, you may qualify for assistance through the Energy Share program.

HELP of Southern Nevada

• Weatherization Program: Weatherization services are provided at no cost to low-income, qualified applicants to help lower utility bills, including the installation of solar screens, weather stripping, blowing insulation, repairing broken windows, and testing of household appliances-replacement if approved. Heating and air conditioning repairs and replacements, refrigerator efficiency checks and other energy saving devices may be repaired or replaced.

Rebuilding Together Southern Nevada

• Rebuilding Together Southern Nevada: RTSN provides critical home repairs to low-income seniors, veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Community Services Agency

• Weatherization Assistance Program: CSA’s Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) helps low-income households in Northern Nevada cut energy bills by improving home energy efficiency. The program currently serves residents of Washoe, Churchill, Douglas, Lyon, and Storey counties, as well as Carson City.

Nevada Rural Housing

• Weatherization & Home Repair: Assistance is provided for qualifying households living in single-family homes, multi-family units and manufactured housing. An audit is performed and then services are provided based on the findings of the audit.

Rural Nevada Development Corporation

• Weatherization Assistance Program: The Low Income Weatherization Assistance Program was established in 1977 to assist low income persons in reducing their utility bills by providing for various energy conservation measures. Assistance is provided free of charge and no liens or financial obligations are placed on individuals receiving assistance.

Federal Communications Commission

• Lifeline for Low-Income Consumers: The Lifeline program has provided a discount on phone service for qualifying low-income consumers to ensure that all Americans have the opportunities and security that phone service brings, including being able to connect to jobs, family and emergency services. Lifeline is part of the Universal Service Fund.

Federal Trade Commission

• National Do Not Call Registry: The National Do Not Call Registry gives you a choice about whether to receive telemarketing calls.