PSE | HELP

November Wind Storm

Damage assessment and restoration efforts continue

Crews and hundreds of support staff continue their around-the-clock work to restore power to those who remain out as a result of yesterday’s damaging windstorm.

As of 6 p.m., we have 354,733 customers out of power. Power has been restored to more than 170,000 customers since the start of the storm. However, due to extensive wind and equipment damage, power for some customers may be out for an extended period. We are updating our outage map with the best information available and will continue to provide updates as restoration progresses. Our focus for tonight continues to be on transmission lines to critical infrastructure and public safety.

Crews continue to survey damage on the ground and helicopter patrols will resume tomorrow morning. Our first step in restoring power is damage assessment: getting a look at what’s been done to the system and determining the extent of repairs that are needed. We will provide restoration updates as information becomes available.

Crews from other utilities from Washington State, British Columbia, Idaho and Oregon have all shown up to assist in the repair of our electric system. Support from these outside agencies ensures that PSE restores power to our communities as soon as possible.

Home Energy Lifeline Program (HELP)

Let us help get you back on track

Paying bills can be stressful, but we’re here to help. PSE’s Home Energy Lifeline Program (HELP) provides assistance for residential customers to help pay electric or natural gas bills. If you qualify, we’ll credit your account for up to $1,000. To apply, begin your application below to receive the help you need.

If you have already applied you can view your application status.

See if you're eligible!

Find out if you qualify before applying. Just provide your household's gross monthly income, number of people in your household and the county where you live. After learning your preliminary status, complete the online application below.

Please select number in household

Please select county

Please enter monthly household income

submit

Learn more about our income guidelines

Enrollment is available to qualifying residential PSE customers. Eligibility is based on your household’s gross monthly income (income before any deductions or taxes), number of people in your household and where you reside. To qualify your household income needs to be 80% or less of area median income (AMI) in the county you live in.

What’s Income

Alimony/Child Support
Annuities
Capital gains
Dividends
Earned wages/salary
Foster care payments
Military pay
Pensions
Rental income/Royalties
Self-employment income (after expenses)
Social Security
Social Security Disability (SSDI)
Student Aid/Scholarships
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
Unemployment

What’s not income

Energy Assistance
Income for people in high school or under 18
Income tax refunds/credits
One-time cash gifts
Reverse mortgage
Section 8 or housing subsidies
WIC benefits

Our income guidelines can be found here. If you have any questions about calculating your income, requirements of the program, or need help applying, please contact your local Community Agency to help complete the HELP application process.

Additional financial assistance

You may also qualify for additional assistance programs. In fact, by applying for PSE Help, we will automatically start an application for Bill Discount Rate, our bill discount program.

Both HELP and Bill Discount Rate provide significant discounts to customers who qualify, based on their household size and income. A single application takes two minutes to complete. No additional documentation is required.