INDIANA — As colder weather approaches, Indiana residents are reminded that filing a single application for the state’s Energy Assistance Program (EAP) can protect their gas and electric utilities from shutoffs through the heart of winter.
Under Indiana Code 8-1-2-121, regulated utility companies are legally prohibited from disconnecting residential gas or electric service between December 1 and March 15 for eligible households that have applied for the program. According to the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA), the vital shutoff protection takes effect the moment an application is submitted—it does not require waiting for final approval.
Income Guidelines and Program Eligibility
Applications for the 2027 EAP program year opened on October 1 and will remain open through April 30, 2027. Indiana determines eligibility based on 60% of the state median income, evaluating the household’s gross income from the preceding three months. This means families who have experienced a recent drop in income may qualify even if their annual earnings were higher last year.
The state’s maximum yearly income thresholds for the 2027 program year include:
- 1 person: $33,556
- 2 people: $43,882
- 3 people: $54,207
- 4 people: $64,533
- 5 people: $74,857
- 6 people: $85,183
- 7 people: $87,119
- 8 people: $89,055
- Larger households scale up to $92,927 for ten people.
Important Rules and Limitations to Keep in Mind
While the winter moratorium is a crucial shield against utility shutoffs, public health and consumer advocates emphasize several critical details:
- Scope of Protection: The moratorium strictly applies to regulated gas and electric utilities. It does not cover water, wastewater, internet, cable, phone service, or bulk fuels like propane and fuel oil. Households using bulk fuels must rely on separate program crisis assistance.
- The Bill Doesn’t Go Away: The moratorium pauses disconnections; it does not forgive past-due balances. Customers remain responsible for all charges, and any accumulated winter debt will come due under regular collection rules once the protection ends on March 15. To help manage this, utilities may offer structured payment arrangements.
- Timing Is Critical: Before December 1, utilities may still disconnect customers with past-due bills under normal policies. Because local providers have up to 55 days to process eligibility and direct-pay benefits can take up to 120 days, applying early is strongly encouraged. If a customer receives a disconnection notice while an application is pending, they should immediately notify their utility provider.
Emergency Crisis Assistance
For households facing an immediate utility shutoff before December 1, or those running dangerously low on bulk heating fuel (such as tank levels at or below 25%), help is available on an expedited timeline. State rules mandate that local providers must take action within 48 hours for a standard heating crisis, and within 18 hours for life-threatening emergencies involving documented medical needs.
How to Apply
Residents can submit applications online via the state’s LITT portal, or apply by mail or in person through their designated Local Service Provider. Applicants must provide household income records for the past three months, current electric and heating bills, and landlord affidavits if utilities are included in rent.
For additional guidance, residents can call Indiana’s 211 network for local referrals, or contact the Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor (OUCC) at 1-800-382-9895 with consumer questions.
