Utility Services

UTILITY BILL PAYMENT ASSISTANCE

As we all struggled through the COVID-19 crisis, Long Beach Utilities paused utility shutoffs and late fees for nonpayment. With the emergency now behind us, we are resuming standard business operations.

More information at lbwater.org/billhelp.

• Flexible Payment Plans

  Those struggling to pay off accumulated debt or new high utility bills can sign up for a flexible plan to pay their bill over time — up to 36 months.

  Active gas and water services will remain uninterrupted as long as the conditions of the payment arrangement are honored.

  Apply here.

• Low Income Gas Discount Program

  Long Beach Utilities is here to help families in need. Qualified residential customers can apply for the Low Income Gas Discount Program to receive a 20 percent discount on their monthly natural gas bill. The discount will be applied to your account as soon as the application is processed and approved by Long Beach Utilities.

  • Who qualifies?
    
    
    • Residents:
      
      
      • Your city utility bill must be in your name and must be for your primary address
      • You must not be claimed as a dependent on another person’s tax return, other than your spouse
      • Your annual household income does not exceed the values outlined in the chart below
    • Nonprofit group living facilities:
      
      
      • Facility must have a separate gas meter
      • Residents of the facility must meet household income requirements for a single person household
      • 70 percent of natural gas used at the facility must be for residential purposes
      • Facility must provide most recent form 501 (c)(3), current California adult residential facility license or condition use permit for a homeless shelter
    • You can also qualify if you or someone in your household participates in any of these programs:
      
      
      • Medicaid or Medi-Cal
      • CalFresh/SNAP (food stamps)
      • Healthy Families A&B
      • CalWORKS
      • Women, Infants & Children (WIC)
      • National School Lunch Program (NSLP)
      • Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
      • Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
      • Tribal TANF
      • Head Start Income Eligible (Tribal only)
      • Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance
  • Benefits
    
    
    • 20 percent discount on gas charges
  • Required documents
    Please be prepared to submit one of the following with your application:
    
    
    • Proof of household income, such as your most recent W-2, Social Security benefits letter
    • Proof of participation in a qualifying program listed above

  Apply

  You can fill out an online application here.

  You can also complete the fillable application (Spanish) (Tagalog) (Khmer) form and email it to billing@lbutilities.org.

  Or print the form and mail it to:

  Long Beach Utilities Billing

  2400 E. Spring St.

  Long Beach, CA 90806

  

• Low Income Senior or Disability Discount Program

  Utilities is here to help seniors and those with disabilities. Qualified customers can get an exemption from paying the city’s 5 percent utility users tax, or UUT.

  • Who qualifies?
    
    
    • Customers age 62 or older who meet income requirements (see chart) or who have otherwise qualified for the UUT Exemption Program
    • Customers with a qualifying disability who meet income requirements (see chart) or who have otherwise qualified for the UUT Exemption Program
  • Benefits
    
    
    • 20 percent discount on gas charges
    • Monthly credit to water service charge
    • First six billing units of water usage at no charge
    • Reduced refuse/recycling rate
    • Exemption from UUT on gas, water, electric and telephone bills
  • Required documents
    
    
    • Scanned or printed copy of photo ID (seniors)
    • Proof of enrollment in the federal Supplemental Security Income program
    • Proof of household income, such as your most recent W2, Social Security benefits letter

  Apply

  To apply, complete the fillable application (Spanish) (Tagalog) (Khmer) and email it to billing@lbutilities.org.

  Or you can print and fill out a paper application and mail to:

  Long Beach Utilities Billing
  2400 E. Spring St.
  Long Beach, CA 90806

  You can also fill out your application in person at any Long Beach senior center. Please call (562) 570-3500 for more information.

  

• Utility Users Tax Refund Program

  This program applies to qualified seniors and disabled customers, whose utilities are supplied through a master meter. These customers do not pay individual bills.

  • Gas, water and electricity are covered utilities
  • Applications are accepted once a year from: January 2 – March 1
  • You must reapply every year to receive your refund
  • The refund amount is $2.25 per month, per utility, times the number of months the applicant has resided at the location

  View/Download the UUTR (Utility Users Tax Refund) Application
  Applications should be returned to the address listed on the application.

• Medical Heating Allowance Program

  Long Beach Utilities is here to help those suffering from serious medical conditions. The Medical Heating Allowance Program allows additional therms of usage at the lower Tier I rate for individuals with qualifying medical conditions.

  Those who require life-saving medical equipment that uses natural gas can also qualify for the therm allowance, plus other benefits.

  • Who qualifies?
    
    
    • Customers with a qualifying condition:
      
      
      • Paraplegic
      • Quadriplegic
      • Hemiplegic
      • Multiple Sclerosis
      • Scleroderma
      • Life threatening Illness
      • Compromised Immune System
      • Emphysema and requires positive pressure breathing apparatus
      • Had pneumonia 3 or more times in 12 months as a result of chronic illness
      • Paralysis of 2 or more extremities
      • Life Support Equipment Required
  • Benefits
    
    
    • Additional allowance of therms of gas usage at the lower Tier 1 rate
  • Required documents
    
    
    • Verification form signed by your physician

  Apply

  Complete the fillable application, including the form signed by your physician, and email it to billing@lbutilities.org.

  Or you can print and fill out a paper application (Spanish) (Tagalog) (Khmer) and mail to:

  Long Beach Utilities Billing

  2400 E. Spring St.

  Long Beach, CA 90806

• Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP)

  LIHWAP is a temporary program that offers assistance for low-income Californians to help manage their residential water utility costs. Utility customers are required to submit an application and be approved to receive relief funds. Visit the LIHWAP program webpage or call (888) 351-4061 for more information.

• Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program

  The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP, is a federally funded program that assists qualifying, low-income households in paying their winter gas and electric bills. A bill does not have to be delinquent for qualified persons to apply for assistance. LIHEAP runs from October 1st through Sept. 30 each year. Customers can apply for LIHEAP assistance once each program year.

  To apply, visit the LIHEAP program webpage or contact:

  Long Beach Community Action Partnership (LBCAP)
  117 W Victoria Street, Long Beach, CA 90805
  (888)351-4061

• COVID Relief Funds (Temporary Programs)

  California Utilities Arrearage Payment Programs  

  The state of California, using funds provided by the State of California, recently approved two new programs available to utilities to specifically address utility bill debt that customers have accrued during the pandemic. The City of Long Beach Utilities will apply for funds on behalf of their utility customers. Customers do not need to take any action.
  
  For more information on gas services, visit the CAPP program webpage.

  What is the 2022 California Arrearage Payment Program Bill Credit?
  The 2022 California Arrearage Payment Program, or 2022 CAPP, is a state program to help pay residential customers’ eligible past due energy utility bills that increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. 2022 CAPP reduces qualified customers’ unpaid energy bills by directly applying a credit to their utility bills. Customers do not need to apply for 2022 CAPP and assistance will be distributed by state utility companies electing to participate in 2022 CAPP.
  
  2022 CAPP bill credits are a courtesy of the State of California and are targeted to help residential utility customers that fell behind on their energy bills because of the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Residential customers may qualify for a 2022 CAPP credit if they had an unpaid energy utility bill for services provided during the COVID-19 pandemic relief period of March 4, 2020 to December 31, 2021.

  How will I know if I qualified for 2022 CAPP? 
  Energy utilities that apply for and receive 2022 CAPP funds are responsible for distributing 2022 CAPP benefits to eligible residential utility customers. Customers that qualify for a 2022 CAPP benefit will automatically receive a credit on their energy utility bill. The credit will be labeled “2022 California Arrearage Payment Program Bill Credit,” “2022 Cal. Arrearage Payment Program Credit,” or “2022 CAPP Credit.” Customers may also be notified through another statement from their energy utility. Energy utility customers don’t need to apply to receive a CAPP credit. Energy utilities apply on behalf of all eligible residential customers. Commercial accounts are not eligible for 2022 CAPP. Eligibility for a 2022 CAPP benefit and the amount of a bill credit will vary depending on the utility and program rules.

  What if I still owe money on my energy bill after 2022 CAPP?
  Under 2022 CAPP, your energy utility company is required to offer payment plans to residential customers with a remaining balance after a 2022 CAPP benefit has been applied to their account. Contact Long Beach Utilities to learn about payment plans and other programs that may be available to help you pay your bill and reduce your energy costs.

  In addition to 2022 CAPP, the State of California may also be able to help residential households through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) – which provides financial assistance to help low-income households pay their energy bills.

  2022 CAPP provides a number of consumer protections for customers that are eligible to receive a 2022 CAPP benefit. Utilities that apply for 2022 CAPP funding are required to:

  • Not disconnect customers with arrearages accrued during the COVID-19 pandemic bill relief period while CSD reviews and approves all pending 2022 CAPP applications.
  • Waive late fees and accrued interest for customers awarded a CAPP benefit.
  • Not disconnect a 2022 CAPP recipient’s utility service for 90 days after a 2022 CAPP benefit is applied, regardless of the balance owed.
  • Notify customers of the option to enter into an extended payment plan, with late fees and penalties waived, if they received a 2022 CAPP benefit and have a remaining balance after that benefit is applied.