Do You Need Electricity with No Deposit?
Lite Up Texas is a great Texas government sponsored electricity service discount program for low-income families. The problem with lite up Texas is most people are needing electric service right away with no hassle and yet they must wait for government approval before qualifying for a cheaper rate. Trying to pick a good electric company that will work with you and Lite Up Texas does not always happen as fast as people would like. So what can you do in the mean time?
Well all Texas electric companies must work with the program by law but even still it these companies may drag their feet. You may be having more of a problem coming up with a deposit rather than dealing with a high per kilowatt hour electric rate which is what Lite Up Texas is used for to bring that price down.
To start out with if you are low-income you want to at least avoid any deposits you are being asked for. I would work with a prepaid electric company to avoid a deposit as your fastest way out of this nightmare. Please call this number to order electric service with no deposit: 1-888-620-3823
You can also check other Texas electricity companies using the zip code compare box at the top right that work with the department of health and human services as well as the PUCT in offering you government subsidized cheaper electric rates. The program is based on summer prices and is always subject to change.
The Texas Public Utility Commission discount electric rate program is not always available but is often re-initiated each year based on need that allows Texas residential electric customers to receive a 12% discount on their current electric rate. The program is only available to those who qualify and certain criteria must be followed to make sure the initial qualification goes through succesfully so that you get the anticipated discount.
For instance, if you have signed up with a Texas electric provider using a different name, phone number, social security number, mailing address, or electric service address that differs with what you have given the Department of Health and Human Services then you will likely be rejected because of your information not matching what the government has on file for you. In order to make sure the Texas LITE-UP program goes through on the first try you may want to get a copy of your application on file with the HHSC and fill out the LITE-UP application using that same information.
How do I apply for the Texas LITE-UP electric rate discount program?
You must first sign up with a low cost electric provider (using our compare chart at the top right is a good way to do this) or if you have bad credit I would try a no deposit company by calling 1-888-620-3823. Once you have started service with these Texas electric companies you can begin the process of signing up with LITE-UP. They will require that you provide a current electric bill and two months of proof showing what your income is. To obtain the LITE-UP application you must call them at 1-866-454-8387.
What Type Of Discounts Can I Expect?
You will be discounted during certain historically high energy consumption months. The months that the electric rate discounts will apply will be for May, June, July, August, and September of 2008 and 2009. The discounts will not start until you have been approved and your status has been received by the Texas electric provider.
Who Can Apply For Lite-Up Texas?
You can either show proof that your income is 125% of the federal poverty guideline by submitting your last 2 months of income history to Lite-Up or if you are receiving Medicaid and or food stamps you will automatically qualify.
What if yo'ure stuck with GARLAND ELEC who wont let you switch and refuses to give the reduced rate. My friend is constantly having her power shut off because in her tiny house her bill is $500 a month which is about her entire monthly income, single mom w/ 2 kids.
UNFAIR & she can't afford to move because they continue to hold her hostage.
When you are dealing with Garland Electric you are actually dealing with the city government who is responsible for maintaining the price of electricity in the area. Many city municipalities actually have cheaper electric rates then in the deregulated areas because the city makes up for it through higher property taxes. In Garland they may be having some trouble as natural gas has risen to a 2 year historical high recently and this has caused electric rates to rise to their historical highs as well. If they have not hedged their energy properly then they may be passing on that issue to the City of Garland in higher electric rates.
I got a letter in the mail stating that because some one in my house hold receives (foodstamps and /or medicaid we may be eligible for a discount. The only catch is the bill has the be in the person's name that is receiving the medicaid. Well I think it is ridiculous to have this stipulation. We are raising my husbands 15 yr old sister, money coming out of our pocket with no financial assistance and you don't want to give me a discount because the bill CAN NOT BE IN HER NAME. She is a minor. this is very unfair.
I get the discount and my son's name is not on the bill. You need to send the application with the food stamp or the medicaid paper you received from the food stamp office.. That is what I did. Your child is a minor. that is not possible to have her name on a bill.
Somehow I misplaced the forms to complete, but am still lookig for them.
Would you be able to send me another set of forms?
Thank you!
J.G.
I was wondering if this goes for a Farmers Electric bill also? I am on SSI and Food Stamps. Could you please let me know? Thank You Linda Pluta
If you are on food stamps you automatically qualify. You can either fill out the form on the Lite Up website or wait for them to send you a letter in the mail. Either way the process will take about the same amount of time.
I applied for this program under my husband and myself but my electric company is under my name. Will this effect anything? Also, we do not take food stamps but do have the right income level but my electric company says that they my name has not been flagged to receive benefits for me
thank you
This Program is such a scamer because I applied and for this whole month of june they didnt even give me the discount just because my electric company had a different home phone number and lite up had another one but everything else was the same my name my husbands, my address our socials and I even turned in all the proof of check stubs and they told me they didnt help me because we had our cell phone for our electric company and lite up had our home phone and since the phone numbers didnt match just because of that! how retarted is that right!!!
I have been on the program every year for 3 yrs with no problem but since moving to the DFW area it appears its mass confusion. As though the elec co and lite up can't work together to make the program productive. I'm not recieving the elec discount when I qualify. I called 2 mo now with them saying they don't understand why I'm not recieving the discount. If you feel the hassle is worth the 40-50 dollar discount then go for it!
i have city of sanger electric do you know if you can use this discounted program with that electric company?
Just wanted to say that I too had some trouble because phone numbers didnt match etc I did get the numbers updated so that lite up texas and my provider matched then I repplied – man was it worth it! $75.00 discount the first month! That sure helped tons! THANKS!
that was re-applied 🙂
i just recieved a bill at 490.00. i just lost a job and was recently on the discounted program i am trying to see whom i can go to that can help me pay this outstanding bill. i donot understand what this is and i am with direct energy please help bill is due on jan 8
thank you
I am seeking the name of the Administrator for
the Texas Lite Up Program. I have written to
the Texas Attorney General's office seeking the
serive agent's address of record on which a summons can be served.
My daughter Ulear K. Minor is totally blind,
severely brain damaged, and mentally impaired
cannot sign a form and was denied on this basis
although she previously received the discount for 16 months. I applied for her telephone discount only since on MQMB. Now I want to know who is legally responsible for improper
action by this agency and illegal discrimination against the mentally and physically handicapped in this program.
Are there any programs for longview texas? I need help finding out because im moving into my apartment on friday the 13th, and i get food stamps and medicaid. Im a single mom of two kids and need to find an electric provider FAST..please help..
My elderly parents are in a coop. could they apply?
They are in a fixed income.
I was just told by a customer service rep that if you had electricy with another provider to change it would take about 1 to 2 billing cycles.If you had a out standing bill with a company but you light was off you will have to pay the out standing balance befor you could have service reconnected with a different provider…..Please tell me that this is not so…..I am about to dispute a bill how can I be held responsible for a amount that I did not generate.
Looks like many of you are not keeping your information up to date! I just heard of this program yesterday. after calling about 10 different numbers, I finally found out that I was enrolled and I did not have to do anything at all. I looked on my phone and energy bills and saw the credits listed. I would have known sooner, but I pay my bills online and usually do not even open the snail mail bills. As for you people that live in garland, you are getting a better deal all around so be happy.
PUCT stacking rules require a minimum of 20 calander days between the date of the submission of your switch request to the market (i.e. by paying your deposit requirement) and the date of your actual switch to the new REP from your current REP. The switch will typically occur on your next scheduled meter read AFTER THE 20 CALANDER DAY PROTECTION PERIOD. This means that if your order is sent out on 6/1 & your next meter read is on 6/15, then you'll have to wait to be switched on the next read of 7/15 because that is the next read following the 20 day period. Hence, one to two billing cycles to complete the switch. If your read date was 6/21, then you'd be switched that day instead. 🙂
I have food stamps and i qualify for this program but What if my electric bill is under my 16 year old sons name?
Unfortunately to qualify you would have to have the name changed with your electricity provider to be under your name instead of your sons in order for lite up Texas ( the department of health and human services) to cooperate in reimbursing your chosen electricity company in Texas. It is also important that all information you gave your electric provider match what the DHHS Texas has on file for you or your electricity provider will not be able to enroll you in the program succesfully.
I am a qualified program user. TXU just cut off my electric w/o warning. How do I striaght this out. TXU told me to call the TX Utilites Commission. I need to talk to a real person to strighen this out. Can you help?
DO NOT enroll with TXU Energy, they overcharge and slam by cancelling your account and switching you to a different company. They are currently under investigation.
ving Garland as soon as possible, yet I love it out here.
Second posting, message disappeared.
I live in Amberly Village Townhomes in Garland, on SSI with a bill for one month $795.27-no carry-over from the previous month, this is more than I make. Service will soon be off Feb. 17th. Most churches and agencies have no money until March, the only other two – nothing but recordings. I don't know where to go or what to do next, next month isn't any better $737. I love Garland, but I just can't afford to live here. Please help!
i have a question my light company aka TRUE ELECTRIC…says i am qualified for the dicount but yet i talk to the manager PETE and he said he doesnt know how to give that discount yet alone he also said he CANNOT give me the discount until sept.?? Does this mean from may-sept. ill be reimburse for a free month of light service cause i know they take off a good amount of discount and i really much prefer this DISCOUNT every month instead of holding it for the last of sept. This is the reason why i got this help in the first place to help me what i cannot pay. Can someone please explain to me what is goin on or are they keeping that discount and replacing it for money and not giving it to me…please help???
well i never applied for the lite up program and i noticed on my bill the discount..the thing is only available through the month of july-oct and u have to be on medicaid or at least chip…or food stamps,,theyll do it or u can go to their website.,,
and for a bill of 160 i got the discount of $23 so it may not seem at lot to some ppls but in 4months thts 80bucks tht can go for gas,water,or food..
i am with stream energy i have a diconnect notice due by the 23rd i dont recieve food stamps or medicad but i do have section 8 can i apply an how long will it take
The electric service we receive right now is currently in my mother-in-law's name as we did not have the funds to pay the huge deposit required by Mid-South Synergy when we moved here from Ohio; however, we pay the power bill. We do qualify for LITE-UP as we are currently low income–husband is unemployed and we receive food stamps and Medicaid for our son. I want to get us changed to Bounce Energy so we can get into the LITE-UP program. What is the easiest way to change from one company to the other without loss of power during the switch?
I have Green Mountain Enegy… Can I still get the discount?? I receive medicaid and Foodstamps. I’m a single parent of 2 children and struggling to pay my bills.. This months light bill was $194.00 🙁
can i get help if im on food stamp or in medicare???
So if i have cps energy it wont work?
Monica, this information is what you need if you have CPS Energy….
CPS Energy (San Antonio)
• Affordability Discount
Residential customers whose income is at or below 125% of Federal Poverty Guidelines and who meet at least one of the following requirements qualify for a discount on their monthly service availability charge — $6.55 per month for electric customers and $3.15 for gas customers. In addition to meeting Federal Poverty Guidelines, qualified individuals: must be 60 years of age or older; have a disability; use life-sustaining medical equipment; or have pre-school aged children or children in school 18 years or younger; meet Veterans' Discount qualifications; or have extenuating circumstances determined by CPS Energy or the City of San Antonio. Qualifications for the Affordablity Discount are determined by the City's Department of Community Initiatives.
For more information, call 210-353-2222. <a href="http://www.cpsenergy.com/Residential/Billing_Payments/Af…” target=”_blank”>www.cpsenergy.com/Residential/Billing_Payments/Af…
Does TVEC (Trinity Valley Electric Coop) not do Lite Up Texas- I recieved a letter in the mail from the lite up Texas but never have a recieved a discount. Does anyone know if TVEC doesn't do this?
They do not work with the Texas Lite-Up program but they do work with Community Service – 1-800-831-9929. I would call them and ask for the paper work. You will have to fill out the paper work to get approval. Once approved they work with TVEC to reduce your electric bill and cut a check each month on your behalf to TVEC. Sounds like a good program if you qualify.
does every light company deal with lite up texas
does ambit energy work with lite up texas
Patty, all electric companies work with Lite Up Texas but many are not trained well and knowing what to do to get you setup. I would speak with Lite-Up Texas and your provider and even consider doing a conference call if you have to so that it gets worked out.