Energy assistance for income-QUALIFIED households
If you are having difficulty paying your natural gas bill, Cascade Natural Gas and its Community Action Agency partners are available to help with solutions provided through the CARES bill payment assistance program.
Applying for CARES
Applying for CARES is easy. You simply self-attest your household income and the number of residents in your home to establish your eligibility. Here are the ways you can do this:
- Call Cascade customer service at 888-522-1130.
- Complete an online application form. After which, a Community Action Agency or Cascade representative will contact you.
- Contact your local Community Action Agency, which is listed below.
- Download, print, complete, and mail a hard-copy application. In addition to English and Spanish, CARES paper applications are available in Burmese, Dari, Filipino, Punjabi, Chinese, Vietnamese, Ukrainian, Arabic, and Russian.
ENGLISH APPLICATION | SPANISH APPLICATION | ADDITIONAL LANGUAGES
Eligibility for CARES
Eligibility for the CARES program is based on your adjusted gross household income and the number of residents in your home. If your adjusted gross household income is 200% or less of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) or 80% or less of the Area Median Income (AMI), you qualify for CARES. Here are the steps to take to determine if you are income-qualified:
Step 1: Add up the income sources for all members of your household excluding income from residents 18 years of age or younger.
Step 2: Deduct from your gross household income any child support payments that you made in the same time period as the earned or received income. Receipt of child support and/or spousal maintenance payments should be added to your gross income.
Step 3: Determine your adjusted gross household income by applying all applicable discounts for your income types as listed in Table 1 below. Apply the one deduction appropriate for the majority of your income type (e.g. Fixed Income, Earned Income, Self-Employment, etc.).
Table 1 – Adjustments to Apply to Gross Household Income
| Gross Income Type (before taxes, SSI taxes, or FICA taxes) | Types of Income | Gross Deduction |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed Income, not taxed | SSA, SSDI, Pension, Unemployment | 0% |
| Fixed Income, taxed | SSA, SSDI, Pension, 401(k) or like accounts, Unemployment | 10% |
| Earned Income, taxed | Regular earning from a job, military pay, Federal Medical Leave Act (FLMA) compensation | 20% |
| Self-Employment | 1040 or any type of self-employment that has costs associated with it. The deduction is to account for business expenses | 50% |
| Other Cash Income | TANF, Child Support Recipient, general assistance dividends, payments for property, trust fund payments, GoFundMe, Rental payments, Intermittent for cash work such as yard work or donating blood or plasma | 0% |
Step 4: Determine if your adjusted gross income is within the qualifying range of 200% or less of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) or 80% or less of the Area Median Income (AMI). Use whichever standard is better for your household.
Cascade understands that determining eligibility is a multi-step process that may be complex, and for this reason, Cascade encourages you to call Cascade customer service at 888-522-1130 or contact a Community Action Agency to walk you through the process or to answer your questions.
CARES Bill Discounts
The energy bill discounts and the arrearage relief grants are provided based on your income level. Table 2 shows the energy discounts and, if applicable, the arrearage relief grants available based on your percentage of FPL or AMI.
Table 2 – CARES Discounts and Arrearage Grants
Income Tier Level | Energy Discount | Arrearage Relief (if applicable) * | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tier | FPL | AMI | ||
| 1 | 0-20% | 0-4% | 90% | 100% |
| 2 | 21-50% | 5-12% | 71% | 100% |
| 3 | 51-100% | 13-24% | 40% | 90% |
| 4 | 101-150% | 25-36% | 15% | 70% |
| 5 | 151-200% | 37-80% | 8% | 50% |
* Arrearage relief is limited by the terms and conditions established in Rule 20, Cascade Arrearage Relief Energy Savings (CARES) Program.
Winter Help
Winter Help is an assistance program funded by customer and Company donations. Winter Help has provided bill assistance to more than 15,000 families since the program started in 1989.
Cascade matches each dollar donated to Winter Help up to a yearly total of $50,000. Contributions are tax deductible and are guaranteed to be used in your community.
If you would like to contribute a one-time donation or make a monthly pledge, please complete the Winter Help form | Spanish and mail it either with your gas payment or mail it with your donation to:
Cascade Natural Gas
Winter Help
8113 W Grandridge Blvd
Kennewick, WA 99336
If you are including your donation on your natural gas payment stub, please remember to check the box noted on your stub for your donation to be applied correctly.
Winter Help is registered under the Charitable Solicitations Act in Washington. Financial disclosure information may be obtained at 360-725-0378.
Call Cascade customer service at 888-522-1130 to apply for Winter Help.
Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) provides income-qualified households with financial grants to be applied toward their energy bills. You may apply for this program at one of the Community Action Agencies listed below. Please note, these income guidelines are updated periodically, so be sure to check back regularly.
- The Washington State Department of Commerce website provides income guidelines for LIHEAP.
- Cascade’s Washington LIHEAP brochure provides more information, including income guidelines, essential energy facts, and contact information in your area.
Weatherization Assistance
Cascade is pleased to partner with Community Action Agencies in offering free home weatherization and energy efficiency improvements to income-qualified residential dwellings heated with natural gas. Please contact a Community Action Agency listed at the bottom of this page for additional information or to apply for weatherization assistance.
Your Community Action Agency will qualify you, perform an energy savings review, and install the energy efficiency and weatherization measures in your home. If needed, the Community Action Agency will also make any health and safety or weatherization-related repairs needed in the home prior to the installation of any energy efficiency measures. Potential improvements may include:
- Insulation in attics, walls, and floors
- Insulation around duct work and hot water pipes
- Air sealing to prevent leaks, especially around windows and doors
- Heating and cooling system cleaning, tuning, and repairing
- Installation of high efficiency natural gas furnace and hot water heaters
Community Action Agencies
Blue Mountain Action Council
Serving Walla Walla County
Application available on their website or by phone
8 E Cherry Street
Walla Walla, WA 99362
509-529-4980
Chelan-Douglas Community Action Council
Serving Chelan and Douglas Counties
Application available by phone
620 Lewis Street
Wenatchee, WA 98801
509-662-6156
Coastal Community Action Program
Serving Grays Harbor County
Application available on their website or by phone
101 E Market St.
Aberdeen, WA 98520-0304
360-533-5100
Community Action Connections (CAC)
Serving Benton and Franklin counties
Application available on their website
720 W. Court Street
Pasco, WA 99301
509-545-4042
Prosser: 509-786-3379
Community Action Council of Lewis, Mason & Thurston Counties
Application available on their website or by phone
807 W Railroad Ave
Shelton, WA 98584
800-878-5235
360-426-9726
Community Action Agency of Skagit County
Serving Skagit County
330 Pacific Place
Mount Vernon, WA 98273
360-416-7585
Kitsap Community Resources
Serving Kitsap County
Application can be requested by emailing [email protected]
845 8th St
Bremerton, WA 98337
360-479-1507
Lower Columbia Community Action Program
Serving Cowlitz County
Application available on their website
1526 Commerce Avenue
Longview, WA 98632
800-383-2101
360-425-3430
NW Community Action Center
Serving south Yakima County
Application available by phone
PO Box 831
706 Rentschler Lane
Toppenish, WA 98948
509-865-7630
OIC of Washington
Serving Adams and Grant Counties
Application available by phone
309 5th Avenue
Moses Lake, WA 98837
Reception line: 509-765-9206
OIC of Washington
Serving north Yakima County
Application available by phone
815 Fruitvale Boulevard
Yakima, WA 98902
Reception line: 509-248-6751
Opportunity Council
Serving Whatcom County
Application available by phone
1111 Cornwall Avenue
Bellingham, WA 98225
360-255-2192
Opportunity Council of Oak Harbor
Serving Island County
Application available by phone
231 SE Barrington Dr, Ste 100
Oak Harbor, WA 98277
360-679-6577
Snohomish County Human Service Department
Serving Snohomish County
Application available by phone or online by clicking here.
3000 Rockefeller Avenue
Everett, WA 98201
425-388-3880
Additional Languages
All CARES program communications are provided in English and Spanish.
Cascade’s webpage (www.cngc.com) can be translated into the following languages:
| Chinese (Simplified) | Japanese | Somali |
| English | Khmer | Spanish |
| Filipino | Korean | Swahili |
| French | Punjabi | Ukrainian |
| Hmong | Romanian | Vietnamese |
| Indonesian | Russian |
If you need any Cascade communications translated, please call Customer Service at 888-522-1130 or email [email protected]. Translation services are available when calling Customer Service.
Energy assistance for income-QUALIFIED households
If you are having difficulty paying your natural gas bill, Cascade Natural Gas and its Community Action Agency partners are available to help with solutions provided through the Energy Discount Program (EDP) bill payment assistance program.
Applying for EDP
Applying for EDP is easy. You simply self-attest your household income and the number of residents in your home to establish your eligibility. Here are the ways you can do this:
- Call Cascade customer service at 888-522-1130.
- Complete an online application at cngc.com. After which, a Cascade representative will contact you.
- Contact your local Community Action Agency, which is listed below.
Eligibility for EDP
EDP eligibility is based on the number of residents living in a customer’s home and the sum of household income, with the exception of income earned by residents who are 18 years old or younger.
Oregon customers may receive EDP if their household is at or below 150% Federal Poverty Levels (FPL) or 60% State Median Income (SMI), whichever is more advantageous for the customer.
If you meet these qualifications, you may enroll in EDP by self-attesting your household income to Cascade Customer Service at 888.522.1130, or by contacting your local Community Action Agencies listed at the bottom of this page.
EDP Discounts
EDP offers the following four tiers of generous bill discounts and arrearage relief grants, if needed.
| Tier | Income Level | Arrearage Relief Grant | Monthly Bill Discount |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0-25% FPL, 0-15% SMI | 90% | 95% |
| 2 | 26-50% FPL, 16-30% SMI | 86% | 70% |
| 3 | 51-100% FPL, 31-45% SMI | 83% | 45% |
| 4 | 101-150% FPL, 46-60% SMI | 80% | 15% |
Customers enrolled in EDP will receive benefits for up to 24 months and will have the option to re-enroll at the end of their 24-month term.
Winter Help
Winter Help is an assistance program funded by customer and Company donations. Winter Help has provided bill assistance to more than 15,000 families since the program started in 1989.
Cascade matches each dollar donated to Winter Help up to a yearly total of $50,000. Contributions are tax deductible and are guaranteed to be used in your community.
If you would like to contribute a one-time donation or make a monthly pledge, please complete the Winter Help form | Spanish and mail it either with your gas payment or mail it with your donation to:
Cascade Natural Gas
Winter Help
8113 W Grandridge Blvd
Kennewick, WA 99336
If you are including your donation on your natural gas payment stub, please remember to check the box noted on your stub for your donation to be applied correctly.
Call Cascade customer service at 888-522-1130 to apply for Winter Help.
LIHEAP
The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) provides income-qualified households with financial grants to be applied toward their energy bills. You may apply for this program at one of the Community Action Agencies listed below. Please note, these income guidelines are updated periodically, so be sure to check back regularly.
- The Oregon Housing and Community Services webpage provides income guidelines for LIHEAP.
- Cascade’s LIHEAP brochure also provides income guidelines, essential energy assistance facts, and contact information in your area.
Weatherization Assistance
Cascade Natural Gas is pleased to partner with the Weatherization Assistance Programs in Oregon. These Community Action Agencies offer free home weatherization and energy efficiency improvements to income-qualified residential dwellings heated with natural gas. Please contact one of the Community Action Agencies listed at the bottom of this page for additional information or to apply for weatherization assistance.
Your Community Action Agency will qualify you, perform an energy savings review, and install the energy efficiency and weatherization measures in your home. If needed, the Community Action Agency will also make any health and safety or weatherization-related repairs needed in the home prior to the installation of any energy efficiency measures. Potential improvements may include:
- Insulation in attics, walls, and floors
- Insulation around duct work and hot water pipes
- Sealing air leaks in the building, especially around windows and doors
- Clean, tune, and repair heating and cooling systems and, if necessary, replace existing systems with high-efficiency natural gas furnaces and water heaters
Community action Agencies
Community Connections
Call for an appointment
2810 Cedar Street
Baker City, OR 97814-2233
541-523-6591
NeighborImpact
Application available at NeighborImpact locations, on their website, by phone, or email
For an application:
Telephone: 541-504-2155
Email: [email protected]
Klamath Lake Community Action Services (KLCAS)
Application available on their website
2316 South 6th St., Suite C
Klamath Falls, OR 97601
866-665-6438
CINA
Community in Action
Application available on their website
915 SW 3rd Ave.
Ontario, OR 97914-2124
541-889-9555
CAPECO
Community Action Program of East Central Oregon
Call for an appointment or application available on their website, by phone, email, or by mail
211 SE Byers Ave
Pendleton, OR 97801
800-752-1139
Additional Languages
All EDP program communications are provided in English and Spanish.
Cascade’s webpage (www.cngc.com) can be translated into the following languages:
| Chinese (Simplified) | Japanese | Somali |
| English | Khmer | Spanish |
| Filipino | Korean | Swahili |
| French | Punjabi | Ukrainian |
| Hmong | Romanian | Vietnamese |
| Indonesian | Russian |
If you need any Cascade communications translated, please call Customer Service at 888-522-1130 or email [email protected]. Translation services are available when calling Customer Service.
Additional Resources
Dial 2-1-1
211 works a bit like 911. Calls to 211 are routed to a local or regional calling center. The 211 center’s referral specialists have databases of resources available from private and public health and human service agencies. They match callers’ needs to available resources and may refer callers to an agency or organization that can provide assistance.
Types of Referrals Offered by 211
- Basic Human Needs Resources – food and clothing banks, shelters, rent assistance, and utility assistance
- Physical and Mental Health Resources – health insurance programs, Medicaid and Medicare, maternal health resources, health insurance programs for children, medical information lines, crisis intervention services, support groups, counseling, and drug and alcohol intervention and rehabilitation
- Work Support – financial assistance, job training, transportation assistance, and education programs
- Access to Services in Non-English Languages – language translation and interpretation services to help non-English-speaking people find public resources (Foreign language services vary by location)
- Support for Older Americans and Persons with Disabilities – adult day care, community meals, respite care, home health care, transportation, and homemaker services.
- Children, Youth and Family Support – childcare, after-school programs, educational programs for low-income families, family resource centers, summer camps and recreation programs, mentoring, tutoring, and protective services
- Suicide Prevention – referral to suicide prevention help organizations