Heart of Florida United Way provides emergency residential utility assistance due to partnerships with public utilities such as the Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC—The Reliable One), Duke Energy, the City of Winter Park Utilities, and Lake Apopka Natural Gas District depending on the availability of funds.
If there is not a utility assistance program for your utility provider and/or if you need any additional assistance, you can access 211 by phone, email, chat or text (just text your zip code to 898-211) to learn about other resources in the community. Visit https://www.hfuw.org/gethelp/ for more information.
City of Winter Park Utilities
The Emergency Utility Assistance Program provides emergency assistance to Winter Park Electric Utility customer who is experiencing a financial emergency and in need of assistance.
Program Criteria:
- Must be a Winter Park Electric Utility customer.
- Must be a City of Winter Park customer or an authorized user on an account.
- Not involved in criminal activity related to tampering.
- Assistance is limited to up to $650 per household in a 12-month period.
Must provide:- Name & Contact Information
- Winter Park Utility Account Number
- Proof of financial hardship (job loss, reduction of hours at work, medical expense, car repair, loss or gap in benefits, change in household, unexpected emergency expense, or other)
- Copy of most recent bill
The Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC)
Program Criteria:
- Must be a residential OUC customer in Orange or Osceola county
- Must be an OUC customer or an authorized user on an account
- Must have a past due balance with OUC
- Not involved in criminal activity related to tampering
Must provide:
- Name and contact information
- OUC Account Number
- Last 4 digits of Social Security number (if you have one)
- Reason you are applying for financial assistance (job loss, reduction of hours at work, medical expense, car repair, loss or gap in benefits, change in household, unexpected emergency expense, or other)
Please note the following:
- OUC Project CARE is providing one time assistance up to $500 per household in a 12-month period.
- We are unable to assist customers with deposits owed.
- We are unable to assist Power Pass customers (unless you have a debt recovery balance).
Please click this link to apply for assistance from OUC Project CARE.
Important Notice: Due to the higher than normal volume of applications received, limited applications will be accepted each week. The link to the application will be unavailable when we reach our weekly capacity.
Lake Apopka Natural Gas District (LANGD)
The LANGD Utility Assistance Program provides assistance to LANGD customers who are experiencing a financial hardship and in need of assistance.
Program Criteria
- Must be a Lake Apopka Natural Gas District residential customer
- Must be a Lake Apopka Natural Gas District customer or an authorized user on an account
- Not involved in criminal activity related to tampering
- Assistance is limited to twice per year or up to $350 per household in a 12-month period
Must provide:- Name and contact information
- Lake Apopka Natural Gas District account number
- Copy of most recent bill
Please click this link to apply for LANGD Utility Assistance.
Duke Energy
Duke Energy’s Share the Light Fund helps provide emergency assistance to those in our community who have experienced a recent personal or family crisis that has placed them in danger of losing their utility service.
Program Criteria:
- Must be a residential Duke Energy customer in Orange, Osceola, or Seminole county
- Must be a Duke Energy customer or an authorized user on an account
- Must have a past due balance with Duke Energy
- Not involved in criminal activity related to tampering
Must provide:
- Name and contact information
- Duke Energy Account Number
- Duke Energy Bill showing past due status
- Valid Picture ID for main applicant with date of birth visible (ex: driver’s license)
- Last 4 digits of Social Security number (if you have one)
- Documentation of the reason you are applying for financial assistance (job loss, reduction of hours at work, medical expense, car repair, loss or gap in benefits, change in household, unexpected emergency expense, or other)
Please click this link to apply for assistance from Duke Energy.
Important Notice: Due to the higher than normal volume of applications received, limited applications will be accepted each week. The link to the application will be unavailable when we reach our weekly capacity.
