Pepco bill help in DC: assistance programs and payment options (2026)
With Pepco rates at 23.9¢/kWh and rising, many DC homeowners are struggling with bills of $300, $400, even $600 or more per month. Here is every program available to help — including programs most people don't know exist.
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In March 2026 the DC Council passed emergency legislation preventing Pepco from shutting off electricity for bills under $1,000. If you have received a shutoff notice, you have more time than you may think — but the bill still needs to be addressed. Read on for all available options.
DC and Pepco assistance programs
The RAD program is Pepco's own bill discount program for income-qualifying DC customers. If you qualify, you receive a 50% reduction on your electric bill every month — not a one-time payment, but a permanent ongoing discount for as long as you remain eligible.
Who qualifies: DC households at or below 60% of the Area Median Income (AMI). For a family of four, that's approximately $76,000/year in 2026.
LIHEAP is a federally funded program that provides one-time emergency assistance with heating and cooling bills. In DC, LIHEAP payments are made directly to Pepco on your behalf — you don't receive a check. The benefit amount depends on your household size, income, and energy costs.
Who qualifies: DC households at or below 60% of the federal poverty level. Priority is given to households with young children, elderly members, or people with disabilities.
The DC Utility Discount Program provides a monthly discount on electric bills for income-qualifying DC residents. Unlike LIHEAP, this is an ongoing monthly benefit rather than a one-time payment. The discount amount varies based on your usage and household size.
Who qualifies: DC residents enrolled in certain public benefit programs (SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, TANF, etc.) automatically qualify. Others may qualify based on income.
The DCSEU offers free energy efficiency improvements for income-qualifying DC homeowners and renters — including free insulation, air sealing, LED lighting, and in some cases free heat pump upgrades. These don't reduce your bill directly, but permanently lower your energy usage so future bills are lower.
Who qualifies: Income-qualifying DC residents, with priority for households at or below 80% AMI. Renters can participate with landlord permission.
Budget billing doesn't reduce your total annual electricity cost, but it spreads it evenly across 12 months. Instead of paying $80 in April and $450 in August, you pay the same amount every month. This makes budgeting much easier and eliminates the shock of summer and winter bills.
Who qualifies: All Pepco customers. No income requirements.
If you have a past-due balance, Pepco offers payment arrangements that let you pay it off over several months while keeping your service active. You'll need to make a down payment (typically 25–50% of the overdue amount) and agree to pay the rest in equal installments added to your regular bill.
Who qualifies: Any Pepco customer with a past-due balance who is not already on a payment arrangement.
A free solar PPA (Power Purchase Agreement) installs solar panels on your roof at zero cost. You pay nothing upfront and nothing per month. A private solar company owns the system, earns the SREC income, and you get free electricity from your panels — saving most DC homeowners $130–$230/month on their Pepco bill from day one. Note: you'll still pay Pepco's ~$22/month customer charge for grid connection — this is unavoidable as long as you're connected to the grid. But if your panels overproduce, Pepco credits you for the excess electricity sent back to the grid, which can offset that charge too.
Important update on Solar For All: The DC SEUS Solar For All program — which was set to bring federally funded free solar to income-qualifying DC homeowners — did not receive its expected federal funding. The program has stalled. However, private solar companies with their own investor funding are still offering free PPAs to qualifying DC homeowners. This private funding window is not permanent — as federal incentives wind down after 2027, fewer companies will be able to offer truly free installations. If you qualify, now is the time to act.
Who qualifies: DC homeowners who own their home, have a roof in reasonable condition, and use enough electricity to make the system worthwhile (typically a Pepco bill of $80+/month). Income is not a requirement for private PPAs.
Red flag: "You'll have zero electric bill." If a solar salesperson tells you there will be no Pepco bill at all — that's false. Every DC homeowner connected to the grid pays Pepco's mandatory customer charge of ~$22/month regardless of how much solar they have. Anyone promising a $0 bill is either misinformed or not being honest with you. A good solar company will tell you the truth: solar dramatically reduces your bill, but the customer charge always remains.
The long-term solution: eliminate your Pepco dependence
Assistance programs help in the short term — but they don't solve the underlying problem. Pepco rates have risen three years in a row, a 23% further increase has already been proposed, and DC's grid upgrade costs are going to keep flowing through to customer bills for years to come.
For DC homeowners who own their home, going solar with a free PPA is the most permanent solution. You pay $0 for the system, $0 per month in solar costs, and your panels offset the majority of your Pepco bill from day one. As Pepco rates keep rising, your savings grow automatically.
A DC homeowner on a free PPA with a 10kW system saves roughly $2,600/year today. At projected Pepco rate increases, that same system will save over $3,500/year by 2031 — with no additional cost to you.
Frequently asked questions
Can Pepco shut off my electricity in DC?
As of March 2026, DC emergency legislation prevents Pepco from shutting off electricity for balances under $1,000. However, this is an emergency measure and may not be permanent. If you have a shutoff notice, contact Pepco immediately to discuss a payment arrangement and apply for assistance programs.
How do I know if I qualify for Pepco bill assistance?
The quickest way to check is to call the DC Department of Human Services at 202-724-5506 and ask which programs you qualify for based on your household size and income. They can check multiple programs at once. You can also visit dhs.dc.gov to review eligibility guidelines.
Can I get help with my Pepco bill if I rent?
Yes. Most DC assistance programs — LIHEAP, the Utility Discount Program, and the RAD program — are available to renters as well as homeowners, as long as you are the account holder responsible for paying the Pepco bill. The DCSEU energy efficiency program requires landlord permission for physical upgrades but renters can still apply for bill assistance.
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