Cold months are coming, and heating bills hit fixed incomes hardest. If your CPS Energy bill is more than you can handle, San Antonio has programs that pay part of it for you — including one that awards credits twice a year. Here’s what’s available right now, and how to apply before heating season.
1. REAP: Up to $400/Year in Utility Credits
The Residential Energy Assistance Partnership (REAP) gives utility credits twice a year — once for cooling season and once for heating season. Heating-season awards are decided in the coming months, so October is the time to apply.
Who may qualify: CPS Energy customers at or below 125% of the federal poverty level who are elderly, have a disability, have children under 16, or have a critical-care medical need.
How to apply: Call the City of San Antonio at 210-207-7830 or Bexar County at 210-335-6770.
2. Affordability Discount: 15–20% Off Your Bill Every Month
CPS Energy’s Affordability Discount Program takes 15–20% off your monthly bill if your household income is at or below 125% of the federal poverty level. You apply through the City of San Antonio’s Department of Community Initiatives — one application, and the discount keeps working every month. You must recertify every year to keep the discount.
3. Project WARM: One-Time Help When You’re Behind
Project WARM provides one-time utility assistance funded by interest from a natural-gas trust. It’s designed for households facing a shutoff notice or an unusually high bill — a bridge when you need it most.
4. Can’t Pay This Month? Ask for a Payment Plan First
Before you fall behind, call CPS Energy at 210-353-2222 and ask about the Budget Payment Plan (it spreads your yearly costs evenly so winter doesn’t spike) or a payment extension. The City of San Antonio also has an online utility-assistance application you can complete from home.
What to Bring When You Apply
- Photo ID
- Your most recent CPS Energy bill
- Proof of income (pay stubs or a benefits award letter)
- Proof of hardship if you’re behind (shutoff notice, medical bills)
More Utility Help Programs Worth Knowing
Beyond the CPS Energy programs above, these state and federal programs help San Antonio households with energy bills:
CEAP — Texas’s LIHEAP: The Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program is Texas’s version of federal LIHEAP, run through local Community Action Agencies (in San Antonio, that’s Family Service Association). Households at or below 150% of the federal poverty level may qualify; SNAP, TANF, and SSI recipients are usually automatically eligible. Crisis assistance for shutoffs is available year-round. Apply through the TDHCA “Help for Texans” tool, call 1-877-399-8939, or dial 211.
Weatherization Assistance Program (free home upgrades): If high bills are the problem every month, weatherization fixes the cause — free home energy audits plus insulation, air-sealing, and efficiency upgrades. Households at or below 200% of the federal poverty level qualify, with priority for seniors, people with disabilities, and families with young children. Apply through TDHCA or dial 211.
Casa Verde (CPS Energy’s free weatherization): If high bills are caused by a drafty, inefficient home, CPS Energy’s Casa Verde program provides free energy-efficiency upgrades to qualifying homeowners and renters — attic and wall insulation, air sealing, duct sealing, and LED bulbs. Lower usage means lower bills permanently, at zero cost to you.
Senior Citizen Late Payment Waiver: If you’re 60 or older, your name is on the bill, and you meet the income criteria, CPS Energy will waive late payment charges entirely — for free.
2-1-1 Texas (free referrals): Dial 211 or call 1-877-541-7905 any time — they connect you with every local energy-assistance option, including church and nonprofit funds.
Medical equipment at home? Register for the critical-care registry through CPS Energy (a physician’s signature is required). It blocks disconnection for households where someone depends on electric-powered medical equipment and gives advance notice of planned outages.
Behind on payments? Texas rules let you split a past-due balance over future bills with a Deferred Payment Plan — ask CPS Energy in writing; they cannot refuse it during extreme weather.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will these programs pay my entire bill?
They reduce it — REAP credits go up to $400 a year, and the Affordability Discount cuts 15–20% off every month. Combined, they can make a real dent, but they don’t erase the bill.
I’m not a senior — can I still get REAP?
Yes, if you meet the income limit and have children under 16, a disability, or a critical-care medical need in the household.
How fast does the help come?Heating-season REAP credits are awarded in the coming months — that’s why applying in October matters. The Affordability Discount starts once your application is approved. City-run utility assistance can take 30+ days to process, so apply before you’re in crisis if you can.
I already got a shutoff notice. What now?
Call CPS Energy at 210-353-2222 immediately to discuss options, and ask about Project WARM for one-time assistance. Don’t wait.
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.
Related Resources
- Free Utility Bill Help in San Antonio — the full guide to every utility program in the city.
- Free Texas Energy Assistance: $166 Million for 2027 — statewide funding explained.
- Apply for Me Application — free, personalized benefits matching.
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