In general, each household is eligible to apply for assistance one time between October 1 – September 1.  Households experiencing crises such as sudden loss of job or benefits, medical emergency, or domestic violence are eligible to apply for a second time.  Please visit our website regularly for updates.  At times we receive extra funding and can provide additional assistance.  

If you are at risk of disconnection and received a notice from your utility, here are the steps to take to get help:

Please contact your utility provider as soon as possible.  They need to know you are working with us, and they may be able to make arrangements to keep your services on and help with a payment plan.  If your application is in our system waiting for processing, let them know.

If the utility provider still cannot work with you and you have a 24-hour disconnect or are disconnected…please call us at 503-615-0771 x2 and leave a message.

For more information about utility assistance including how to apply follow the link here.

Energy programs are designed to help with your heating/cooling costs. If you qualify for assistance, your minimum assistance amount will be $250.   

Payment amount depends on many factors such as size of your household, household's gross income, and the amount of your bill.  Additionally, the amount is also dependent on what funding we have available at the time you apply. 

After you submit your completed application along with all required income documents and IDs, it typically takes 4 to 6 weeks for us to process it. If any documents or information are missing, we will contact you by email. Once your application is processed, we will send a payment commitment to your utility company, and you will receive a receipt by email or mail. Missing documents can delay the processing, so please respond promptly to any requests. Kindly wait 6 weeks before inquiring about the status of your application

You can also apply by mail. To request a paper application, please call us at 503-615-0771, extension 3, and leave a message with your name, address, and phone number. It may take up to 2 weeks to receive the application by mail

If you have utility debt (PGE, Northwest Natural, City of Forest Grove Electric, or West Oregon Electric) and it is preventing you from securing housing in Washington County, you may contact us at 503-615-0771, extension 1, to be screened for eligibility. To get prequalified, we will need an application with income and ID documentation for all adults in the household. Once prequalified, we can provide a letter to the potential landlord stating that you are eligible for energy assistance and that Community Action will address the utility debt as soon as you move into the unit. After you set up an active utility account, we can process your application for assistance

An adult member of the household must be listed as the customer or co-customer on the utility account(s).  If your landlord requires that the utility account stay in their name, please provide a copy of your rental agreement, or a letter from your landlord explaining why.  We can work with the utility company.

Debt that is in collections cannot be assisted, as it is not tied to an active account. To be eligible for assistance, your household must have an active utility account in Washington County in the name of an adult household member. Once you establish an active account, you can apply for assistance. However, any debt in collections can only be covered if your utility company is willing to move the collection amount to your active bill at the time of processing

We offer local funding for water assistance, depending on your location. Please check here to see what funding is available in your area.  

Even if you do not have a Social Security number, you are still encouraged to apply. However, please note that not providing a Social Security number may limit the amount of assistance you are eligible to receive.

Community Action’s Energy Assistance Program offers in-person help for individuals who have difficulty completing an application on their own. To schedule an appointment, please call 503-615-0771, extension 1, and speak with a representative.

We offer garbage discount to households in the city of Beaverton, Hillsboro, and unincorporated areas of Washington County. Please note that this is a discount program and does not provide direct payment for the bill.  Please follow this link to submit request for help.