The Citizens Energy/Distrigas Heat Assistance Program was created for people who are struggling to pay their natural gas heating bills in Massachusetts. The program is open to those who low income families that have exhausted their federal fuel assistance benefit or to individuals ineligible to receive federal fuel assistance but cannot afford to pay their heating bills.

Citizens Energy administers this Distrigas-funded program. Distrigas dedicates proceeds from every LNG shipment to its import terminal in Everett, Massachusetts, up to approximately $1 million a year.

Last winter, thousands of Massachusetts households received assistance from this program, which makes payments on behalf of customers directly to Bay State Gas, Berkshire Gas, Blackstone Gas, Holyoke Gas & Electric, Keyspan, Middleboro Gas & Electric, New England Gas, NStar, Unitil, Wakefield Municipal Gas & Light, and Westfield Gas & Electric.

Households that heat their home with natural gas and believe they may qualify for assistance through this program should call 1-866-GAS-9918. Callers to this hotline will be asked to leave a name and address on the message so that Citizens Energy can mail out an application form. 

Applicants need to complete the form and mail it back to Citizens Energy, along with a copy of their gas-utility bill. If the applicant is eligible, Citizens Energy will work with their gas utility to credit $150 towards the household’s gas account.

Click the link below to read about a Dorchester, MA recipient's story.

Heating Subsidies Available for Mass. Residents in Need