SHUTOFF NOTICE?Call Austin Energy at 512-494-9400 before the date on the notice and ask for a payment arrangement. If someone in the home is seriously ill, ask about a medical certificate. Apply for energy assistance at the same time.
Discount rates and monthly credits
Customer Assistance Program (CAP) Utility Bill Discounts
- What
- Discounts that can help reduce utility bills an average of $1,092 a year. On the electric bill this includes a customer charge waiver, a discount on total electrical usage and a discount on Community Benefit Charges.
- Who
- Households where someone takes part in Medicaid, SNAP, CHIP, Telephone Lifeline, Travis County CEAP, the Medical Access Program, VASH or SSI, or with household income less than 200% of the Federal Poverty Level.
- How
- Apply online at the City of Austin discount program site, or call 855-319-6630 with eligibility questions.
Help with a bill you cannot pay
Financial Support Plus 1
- What
- Emergency financial aid for residential customers who are having a temporary problem paying their utility bills.
- Who
- City of Austin utility customers facing an emergency such as serious illness or job loss. Some agencies require you to be a current client or live in certain ZIP codes.
- How
- Apply through a local social service agency. Find one at FinancialSupportPlus1.com.
Payment plans and more time to pay
Payment Arrangement
- What
- Spreads a past-due balance over a set period as monthly installments, paid along with your current bill.
- Who
- Eligible City of Austin utility customers. You may not qualify if you are on Budget Billing, had an unmet prior arrangement, returned payments or a disconnection for non-payment.
- How
- Call Customer Care at 512-494-9400 or email, or log in to COA Utilities to request a 12-month arrangement online.
Payment Extension
- What
- Extends a bill's due date for a short period. The total amount due is due by the extension due date.
- Who
- Eligible customers who met the terms of any prior extension. Not available on Budget Billing.
- How
- Call Customer Care at 512-494-9400 or email, or log in to COA Utilities to request it online.
Budget billing
Budget Billing
- What
- Consistent utility bill amounts month to month to make budgeting easier.
- Who
- City of Austin utility customers.
- How
- Log in to COA Utilities to sign up.
Medical needs
Medically Vulnerable Registry
- What
- Individualized bill management, flexible payment plans to avoid losing service, and personalized emergency backup plans for outages.
- Who
- Residents on life support, or treated by a licensed medical provider for a critical or serious illness affected by temperature. A licensed medical provider must verify eligibility.
- How
- Apply online through the Medically Vulnerable Registry Application or call Customer Care at 512-494-9400.
Free home energy upgrades
Weatherization Assistance
- What
- Free home energy improvements such as attic insulation, duct repair and sealing, air sealing, solar screens, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, LED lighting and a smart thermostat.
- Who
- Households enrolled in the Customer Assistance Program or the Medically Vulnerable Registry that meet the 80% Median Family Income limits. Owners and renters can apply; renters need landlord permission.
- How
- Complete the Weatherization Assistance Program Form online or by mail. Questions: call 512-482-5346.
State energy assistance in Texas
Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program (CEAP), run by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA), helps households with low income pay heating and cooling bills (the federal LIHEAP program). Apply through the local CEAP provider for your county. Find it on the TDHCA Help for Texans page. Official page.
When the utility cannot shut off service in Texas
- Cold weather: An electric utility cannot disconnect a customer on a day when the previous day's highest temperature did not exceed 32 degrees Fahrenheit, and the temperature is predicted to remain at or below that level for the next 24 hours, according to the nearest National Weather Service (NWS) reports.
- Hot weather: No disconnection when the NWS issues a heat advisory for any county in the utility's service territory, or when one was issued on either of the preceding two calendar days.
- Medical: No disconnection if it would cause a resident to become seriously ill or more seriously ill. The person's attending physician must call the utility and send a written statement by the disconnection date, and the customer must enter a deferred payment plan. Protection lasts 63 days from the bill date.
Rule: 16 TAC ยง25.29. Official text. The protections have conditions: read the rule or ask the utility. You still owe the bill.
To see what your bill should be, use the Austin Energy bill calculator. To lower it, see the plans and the appliance cost tool. All programs: Austin Energy assistance page.
How can I get help paying my Austin Energy bill?
Call Austin Energy before the due date and ask for a payment arrangement, apply for energy assistance, and ask about its discount programs (Customer Assistance Program (CAP) Utility Bill Discounts). This page lists each program with its official link.
Does Austin Energy have a low-income discount?
Customer Assistance Program (CAP) Utility Bill Discounts: Discounts that can help reduce utility bills an average of $1,092 a year. On the electric bill this includes a customer charge waiver, a discount on total electrical usage and a discount on Community Benefit Charges. Households where someone takes part in Medicaid, SNAP, CHIP, Telephone Lifeline, Travis County CEAP, the Medical Access Program, VASH or SSI, or with household income less than 200% of the Federal Poverty Level.
Can Austin Energy shut off my power in winter?
The Texas rule: An electric utility cannot disconnect a customer on a day when the previous day's highest temperature did not exceed 32 degrees Fahrenheit, and the temperature is predicted to remain at or below that level for the next 24 hours, according to the nearest National Weather Service (NWS) reports. The rule has conditions, and you still owe the bill.
utilityratecalc.com is not part of Austin Energy or a government agency. Programs and amounts change: the official page of each program has the current rules. Checked October 21, 2026.