Chester, VA – With colder weather approaching, Columbia Gas of Virginia is reminding customers who need financial assistance with utility bills to apply for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). The LIHEAP enrollment period in the Commonwealth opens on Tuesday, Oct. 14, and closes on Friday, Nov. 14.
“We want our customers and their families to stay safe, warm and connected this winter in Virginia, and we know many households may be facing tough financial times and higher energy bills,” said Columbia Gas of Virginia President and Chief Operating Officer Jennifer Montague. “That’s why we’re encouraging you to apply for LIHEAP now and potentially qualify to receive one-time cash grants for home heating bills or emergency heating repairs.”
LIHEAP is a federally-funded program administered through the Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) as the Fuel Assistance program. In addition to the one-time cash grants, crisis grants are available to assist income-eligible households without heat or in danger of being without heat.
Customers can apply in multiple ways:
- Online via the Commonwealth of Virginia CommonHelp portal at commonhelp.virginia.gov;
- By calling the VDSS Enterprise Customer Service Center at 1-855-635-4370 Monday to Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.; or
- Manually by submitting an application to their local department of social services.
The income eligibility for the program is 150 percent of the 2025 federal income guidelines, meaning that an individual with an annual income of up to $23,475 is eligible to apply and a family of four with an annual income of up to $48,225 can apply.
In addition to LIHEAP Fuel Assistance, Columbia Gas offers other assistance programs that feature flexible payment options, budget plans and income-eligible financial support.
Customers can find out what programs they may qualify for by using our eligibility calculator at www.columbiagasva.com/eligibility-calculator or by calling 1-800-543-8911 to speak with a Columbia Gas representative. Additional information can be found at our Energy Assistance Resource Center at www.columbiagasva.com/energy-assistance-resource-center.
About Columbia Gas of Virginia
Columbia Gas of Virginia delivers clean, affordable and efficient natural gas to approximately 290,000 customers in 98 communities across the Commonwealth. With headquarters in Chesterfield County, it is one of six regulated utility companies of NiSource (NYSE: NI), one of the largest fully regulated utility companies in the United States. NiSource employees are focused on our mission to deliver safe, reliable energy that drives value to our customers. More information about Columbia Gas of Virginia and NiSource, including our record of leadership in sustainability, investments in the communities we serve, and how we live our vision to be an innovative and trusted energy partner, is available at www.ColumbiaGasVA.com and www.NiSource.com.
