Free CEAP Help in San Antonio: Winter Heating Bill Assistance (2026)

Heating season is about to get more expensive. The National Energy Assistance Directors Association estimates U.S. households will spend roughly $82 more on heating this winter — up 8.7% versus last year. If your budget is already tight, that increase lands hard.

The good news: Texas has a federal program built exactly for this. It’s called CEAP — the Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program — and it’s how Texas delivers federal LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) dollars to households that need help paying heating and cooling bills. In Bexar County, it can pay $400 to $1,200 a year toward your energy bills, with extra crisis help on top.

This guide is the CEAP-specific walkthrough: what it covers, who may qualify, the two kinds of help it offers, and exactly how to apply in San Antonio. (For the broader menu of CPS Energy programs — REAP credits, the Affordability Discount, Project WARM — see our companion guide on free help paying your CPS Energy bill.)

What CEAP actually does

CEAP is funded by the federal government and run in Texas by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) — but you don’t apply to TDHCA directly. Applications go through local agencies in your county, which is why knowing the right San Antonio door to knock on matters.

CEAP offers two kinds of help:

• Regular assistance. A yearly benefit applied to your heating or cooling bills — typically $400 to $1,200 per year depending on your income tier, household size, and how large your energy bills are relative to your income.
• Crisis assistance. Extra help when you’re facing a shutoff or an energy emergency — typically $200 to $800 per crisis episode, paid on top of the regular benefit. In Texas, crisis help runs year-round, not just in winter.

Who may qualify in Bexar County

• You are a CPS Energy customer and a Bexar County resident.
• Your household income is at or below 150% of the federal poverty level. Households receiving SNAP, TANF, or SSI are usually automatically income-eligible.
• You meet citizenship or eligible non-citizen criteria.

Priority goes to households with someone 60 or older, someone with a disability, or families with children age 5 or younger — but those aren’t the only households that may qualify. If your income fits and your bills are a burden, apply.

How to apply in San Antonio (3 verified routes)

1. Bexar County Department of Community Resources — (210) 335-3707. This is the TDHCA-listed local agency for Bexar County CEAP. Call to start your application.

2. Bexar County Utility Assistance — (210) 335-3666. The county’s Community Impact Division offers utility assistance to income-eligible Bexar County residents (electric, gas, and water), at 233 N. Pecos St., 5th floor, San Antonio. You’ll need your CPS Energy customer number, proof of income for the past 30 days, and ID for all household members.

3. TDHCA’s “Help for Texans” tool or dial 211. The state’s online tool routes you to the right local agency, and 211 Texas connects you with every local energy-assistance option by phone, 24/7.

Appointments are required — per the local CEAP program page, walk-ins are asked to schedule an appointment and return. Call ahead; don’t just show up. Hours are typically Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM–4:00 PM.

What to bring to your appointment

• Government-issued photo ID for the head of household.
• Social Security cards or numbers for everyone in the household.
• Proof of income for the past 30 days — pay stubs, benefits award letters, child support records, unemployment documentation.
• Your most recent CPS Energy bill (or fuel receipt if you use propane).
• Lease or mortgage statement to verify residency.
• For crisis help: your shutoff notice or disconnection warning.

Gather these before your appointment — missing documents are the most common reason applications stall.

Timing: apply before you’re in crisis

Regular CEAP benefits are processed as applications come in, and funding is limited each year — earlier in the season is better. Crisis assistance moves faster (often within days when a shutoff is imminent), but you shouldn’t wait for a shutoff notice to start the regular application. With heating costs forecast 8.7% higher this winter, October is the right month to get your paperwork in.

Don’t stop at CEAP

CEAP stacks with other programs. Many households combine it with CPS Energy’s own Affordability Discount (monthly bill reduction for households at or below 125% of the poverty level) or REAP utility credits. Our CPS Energy bill-help guide and the full utility-help guide walk through those — and statewide energy funding is explained in the Texas energy assistance overview.

Frequently asked questions

Is CEAP the same as LIHEAP?
Yes — CEAP is the name Texas gives its LIHEAP program. Same federal dollars, Texas branding.

Will CEAP pay my whole bill?
It reduces it substantially — $400 to $1,200 a year for regular assistance, plus crisis help when needed. It usually doesn’t erase the bill entirely, which is why combining it with CPS Energy’s own discount programs helps.

I’m not a senior and I don’t have young kids. Can I still apply?
Yes, if your household income is at or below 150% of the federal poverty level. Seniors, people with disabilities, and families with young children get priority, but they aren’t the only ones who may qualify.

What if I’ve already gotten a shutoff notice?
Ask about crisis assistance specifically when you call — it moves faster than regular benefits. Also call CPS Energy at (210) 353-2222 right away to discuss a payment plan; you have options even with a notice in hand.

Get Free Help Applying — Apply for Me

Our free Apply for Me service matches you with programs you may qualify for — including utility assistance — and walks you through the applications.