With winter months approaching, Gibson Electric Membership Corporation wants to remind our member-owners of federal funding available to help pay for heating your home.

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) can help you pay your heating or cooling bills or get emergency services during an energy crisis. You may be eligible for help with your energy bills based on your income.

In Tennessee, LIHEAP is administered through a network of 19 local agencies that reach all 95 counties. LIHEAP is a one-time assistance offered to help defray heating and cooling expenses, as long as funding is available.

The online application and eligibility requirements are available at https://thda.org/help-for-homeowners/energy-assistance-programs/low-income-home-energy-assistance-program-liheap.

Gibson Electric member-owners in Crockett, Dyer, Lake, Obion and Weakley counties should contact the Northwest Tennessee Economic Development Council at 731-364-3228, and member-owners in Haywood and Madison counties should contact the Southwest HRA at 731-989-5111 for more information and assistance with applications.

In Kentucky, LIHEAP is administered by the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, which contracts with Community Action Agencies across the state to receive LIHEAP applications and provide recipient benefits. Qualified applicants are encouraged to contact their local agency outreach office for specific application instructions. West Kentucky Allied Services, Inc. serves Gibson Electric member-owners in Carlilse, Fulton, Graves and Hickman counties. Contact 270-247-4046 or find your local office at https://wkas-ky.org/contact/.

If you don’t qualify for low-income assistance, but need additional time to pay your bill, you can set up your own payment arrangement through our app or online portal. If you need assistance with a payment arrangement, please call your local member service center:

• Alamo – 731-696-5961
• Clinton – 270-653-2425
• Tiptonville – 731-253-7181
• Trenton – 731-855-4660
• Troy – 731-536-5920