Please call the number in your area and we will do our best to help quickly. We reserve time for some urgent appointments each week provided we have utility assistance program(s) available.

If you are a homeowner without a working heat system, please call the number in your area for an urgent appointment. If you live in a home you own, Opportunity Council may be able to connect you with financial assistance to fix a broken furnace, heat pump, baseboard heaters or heat stoves. Please ask about this program when you call.

If you are a renter without a working heat system, please contact your landlord or property management.

Depending on the program, someone in your household may need to meet these requirements but we do not investigate or report immigration status. Your conversation with us about your status or the people living in your home is completely private.

Yes, in some situations. Please contact us for more information.

Households can receive utility assistance services from Opportunity Council once per program year. You do not have to be behind on your utility bills to receive assistance.

Because financial assistance programs are complicated and change frequently, resource providers sometimes rely on us to help people access them. We are a nonprofit organization and there is no charge for our services. Your personal information is only used to determine whether you are eligible for assistance.

Currently we work with:

• Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which provides assistance with power bills, fuel costs and efficiency improvements for anyone who qualifies
• Puget Sound Energy Home Energy Lifeline Program (PSE HELP) and NEW Bill Discount Rate Program, which offers PSE customers assistance paying electric bills
• Cascade Natural Gas’s NEW Cascade Arrearage Relief and Energy Savings Program (CARES), which helps CNG customers with natural gas expenses
• Washington State Home Energy Assistance Program (S-HEAP)*, funded by the State’s Climate Commitment Act, it provides assistance with electricity bills and efficiency improvements for anyone who qualifies

Unfortunately, Opportunity Council no longer has water, sewer, or septic pumping assistance available. However, some utilities may have discount rates or assistance available for low income households or households with seniors or disabilities.  Please contact your local water or sewer utility to see what assistance (if any) is available.  If you live in Whatcom County, we’ve compiled a list of utilities who provide discount programs for eligible households: Whatcom Resources – Utility Assistance Programs.

At this time, Opportunity Council does not have a specific garbage bill assistance program available. However if you are in need of financial assistance for your garbage bill, an alternative option is through the Whatcom Church Network. You can find information about services and contact information here: whatcomabc.org/church-network 

Opportunity Council does not have a program to assist with these bills. However, qualifying households can receive a federal benefit that provides a discount of up to $30 a month towards internet service, and up to $75 per month on qualifying Tribal lands. You can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers if you contribute more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase price. Information about The Affordable Connectivity Program and the application process can be found here: fcc.gov/acp 

An option for households looking for affordable phone service is through Lifeline, a federal benefit that provides eligible consumers with a monthly discount of up to $9.25. Information regarding income qualifications and the application process can be found here: lifelinesupport.org/get-started

For Comcast customers, discounted internet service is available for qualifying households for $9.95 a month through Comcast Internet Essentials. Households that apply for Internet Essentials and the Affordable Connectivity Program can receive internet access for free. More information about this service can be found here: xfinity.com/learn/internet-service/internet-essentials

*UPDATED: Requests for portable air conditioners for Summer 2024 has closed. Please check back starting October 1, 2024.*

We offer portable air conditioner units to homes where the household has received LIHEAP since October 1, 2024 AND one of the following:

• Someone living in the household is age 60 years or older; or
• Someone living in the household receives a federal disability cash benefit (Social Security Disability or SSDI, SSI, or VA Disability Benefit); or
• Someone living in the household is age 5 years or younger (NEW starting October 1, 2024).

It is a one-time benefit and may only receive one per home per lifetime.  We must receive a waiver form signed by the LIHEAP applicant in order to be placed on our monthly order list at the end of each month to be shipped directly to your home.  If interested, please let us know when you contact us to schedule an appointment.
**NOTE: Funding is limited and may be spent out before Summer 2025. Please do not wait until the summer to think about cooling. **

Each year, Opportunity Council opens priority scheduling for households with seniors and people with disabilities receiving Federal Disability benefits in the fall for appointments scheduled October through January to help prepare for the winter months ahead of our general public. For Whatcom and Island Counties, residents can call your local office during the priority scheduling dates listed below:

Seniors age 60 years and older can call starting September 9 through September 18th for October-December appointments

People with disabilities receiving federal disability benefits (SSDI, SSI, or VA Disability) can call starting September 30 through October 10th for December-January appointments

For San Juan County, please contact your local resource center to be put on a priority list once utility assistance opens in late fall.

If you are unable to schedule online or by phone due to a disability, please complete a scheduling accommodation request form.

Scheduling Accommodation Request Form – English

Scheduling Accommodation Request Form – Español (Spanish)

Scheduling Accommodation Request Form – русский (Russian)

Please have the following information available for your appointment.

1.  Names, dates of birth, and social security numbers for all household members. (You may still be eligible without a social security number)
2. Latest utility bills or access to the lease.
3. Proof of income for the month prior to the appointment date. (We count: Earnings, Social Security/SSI, VA cash benefits, TANF, General Assistance (GA/ABD), Odd Jobs, Work Paid in Cash, Work Exchange for Rent, Unemployment, L&I, State Paid Family/Medical Leave, Child Support, Alimony, Rental Income, Self-Employment Income)

• LIHEAP: 360-725-2857
• PSE HELP & Bill Discount Rate: 1-888-225-5773
• CNG CARES: 1-888-522-1130
• OPALCO Project PAL:  360-376-3500

*CNG CARES (Cascade Arrearage Relief & Energy Savings) program and PSE’s new bill discount rate program (with PSE HELP) will begin October 1, 2023. You do not need an appointment with Opportunity Council to apply.  You can apply online by clicking the links below to see if you are eligible:

PSE Bill Discount Rate (Island/Whatcom Counties)

CNG CARES (through the Opportunity Council) (Island/Whatcom Counties)

OPALCO Project Pal (San Juan County)

If you do not have online access, please contact your local county’s energy assistance location and we can take your information over the phone for you.

We strive to provide you with the best service possible. However, if you are unhappy with your service or do not agree with our decisions, please complete a grievance form. We are happy to reconsider your application.

Grievance Policy – English

Grievance Policy – Español (Spanish)

Grievance Policy – русский (Russian)

Grievance Form – English

Grievance Form – Español (Spanish)

Grievance Form – русский (Russian)