Energy Assistance
The Energy Assistance programs provide relief to Virginia Beach residents in the form of financial assistance for costs related to a water utility bill, or the operation of heating and cooling equipment.
The Water Assistance Program is provided by Virginia Beach Public Utilities to assist qualifying residents with their City Services Bill. Eligible residents can receive program assistance at a maximum of $350 once per fiscal year for a City Services Bill and $300 for a plumbing repair.
Please review the program eligibility requirements before applying. Applications are accepted at the Virginia Beach Department of Human Services, 3432 Virginia Beach Blvd.
For more information, please call (757) 385-6700.
The Fuel Assistance Program (Offset Heating Fuel Costs) helps low income households offset heating fuel costs; applicants must be responsible for paying a heating bill to be eligible and meet the income eligibility requirements. Fuel assistance helps with home heating costs and can be used for connection fees, installation charges and furnace restarts.
The program begins the second Tuesday in October and ends the second Friday in November.
Applicants can apply in one of three ways:
- Online at CommonHelp.Virginia.gov
- Over the phone by calling 1-855-635-4370, M-F, 7 a.m. – 6 p.m.
- Or by filling out a paper application (available in English and Spanish) and returning it to dropbox located at the Virginia Beach Department of Human Services, 3432 Virginia Beach Blvd.
The Cooling Assistance component provides purchase or repair of cooling equipment and/or payment of electricity to operate cooling equipment. Cooling Assistance applications are accepted from June 15 through Aug. 15.
Applications can be completed online at CommonHelp.Virginia.gov, by phone at 1-855-635-4370, or print off an application in English or Spanish and leave it in the outside drop box at our main building at 3432 Virginia Beach Blvd.
To be eligible, a household must contain at least one vulnerable individual who is:
- Less than 6-years-old, or
- More than 60-years-old, or
- Disabled
Additionally, an applicant must:
- Be a resident of Virginia Beach
- Have a cooling expense responsibility
- Provide a copy of their current electric bill
- Submit a completed, signed application that includes information for everyone who lives in the household, whether they are included on any case (SNAP, Medicaid or TANF) or not
- Provide verification of all gross income for everyone in the household, earned and unearned for the month prior to the month of application. Earned income includes wages and salaries - pay stubs or copy of contract - self-employment (will need to provide last year's income tax return or bookkeeping records)
VB411 In The Know - Summer Cooling Assistance Program
The Crisis Assistance component is intended to meet a qualifying household's emergency heating needs, when no other resource is available. The program assists households with emergency heating costs to include: primary heat security deposits, utility bills, repair and replacement of heating equipment, primary heating fuel or emergency shelter.
The program begins Nov. 1 and ends March 15, annually. Applications are accepted online at CommonHelp.Virginia.gov and at the Virginia Beach Department of Human Services, 3432 Virginia Beach Blvd.