Nevada energy assistance: EAP, Fast-Track, arrearage help and weatherization (2026-27)

One combined heating and cooling program, run from Carson City and Las Vegas

Nevada has no separate heating season. The FFY 2027 LIHEAP State Plan runs heating, cooling and year-round crisis help together from October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027, and describes them as one combined program ⁠⁵. The federal grant is budgeted at 40% heating, 40% cooling, 1% crisis, 5% weatherization, 7% carryover and 7% administration ⁠⁵.

For applicants, the EAP program year runs July 1 to June 30. DSS evaluates applications year-round until money runs out and pays once a year, normally to your energy company ⁠¹. Applications are worked first come, first served ⁠⁶.

No county agency decides your case. Applications go to EAP Office-North in Carson City or EAP Office-South in Las Vegas, which share the toll-free line (800) 992-0900 ⁠⁹⁠⁶. Intake sites only collect, check and forward applications. In the north they include county social services offices in Elko, Lyon and Douglas counties and family resource centers in Reno, Sparks and Sun Valley ⁠⁷. In the south they include HopeLink of Southern Nevada in Henderson, Three Square in Las Vegas and Nye County Health and Human Services in Pahrump ⁠⁸.

How DSS calculates the Fixed Annual Credit

Each household gets a Fixed Annual Credit (FAC): the amount needed to bring its gas and electric spending down to the statewide median share of income spent on energy ⁠⁶. For FY 2027, DSS sets that median energy burden at 1.48%, based on a Nevada median household income of $105,027 ⁠⁶. The calculation has three steps ⁠⁶:

1. Your expected share

   DSS multiplies your household’s gross annual income by 1.48%.

2. Your actual cost

   DSS totals your energy cost for the 12 months before you apply.

3. The gap is the credit

   If your actual cost is higher than your expected share, the difference is your FAC, up to your annual usage and the program’s benefit cap ⁠⁶.

Example (our calculation from the plan’s formula): a family of three with $30,000 in gross income is expected to pay $444 (1.48%). If its gas and electric bills totaled $2,400 last year, the credit is $1,956.

The plan gives the overall minimum and maximum but not the full cap matrix by household size and income. Households heating with oil or propane have a separate, higher cap ⁠⁶.

There is no asset test. You can send the credit to your heating company, your cooling company, or split it between them ⁠⁶. If money is left during the year, DSS can approve a supplemental payment ⁠⁶. If your service is cut off for nonpayment, you lose the rest of the credit ⁠⁶.

Why your utility’s name matters: the Universal Energy Charge

The state-funded part of EAP only pays utilities that collect the UEC, and your bill must show a UEC for your address in the month you apply ⁠⁶. Customers of rural electric cooperatives, general improvement districts and member-only utilities pay no UEC, and wood, coal and propane are not covered by it ⁠⁶. These households can still be served with federal LIHEAP money if they meet the other rules ⁠⁶.

Renters in subsidized housing whose utilities are all included in the rent cannot get an EAP benefit unless they have an energy burden ⁠⁵.

Fast-Track, Crisis Intervention and arrearage help

Nevada’s crisis help is not a separate pot of money. All three emergency components pay the same FAC, once per program year; they change how fast you are processed or who qualifies ⁠⁶.

• Fast-Track. You must meet one trigger: a 48-hour disconnect notice, service already off, less than 10% fuel left in your tank, a deposit needed to start service, or a life-threatening situation if you lose power ⁠⁶. You must also have paid at least $25 on your bills in the prior 60 days, have been refused a payment plan (or be unable to keep up with yours), and have had an unexpected income loss or emergency expense in the past six months ⁠⁶. The DSS web page describes the income loss as 2 to 5 months and at least 15% of gross income, which is narrower than the plan ⁠⁴. Ask the EAP office which test it applies. DSS processes the case within 48 hours of a complete application, or 18 hours if losing power is life-threatening ⁠⁵.
• Crisis Intervention. This is for households over 150% of poverty. If unreimbursed medical costs, necessary home repairs, or car repairs needed for ongoing medical care bring your income down to the limit, you qualify ⁠⁶. The expense must be documented and cause hardship for at least three months ⁠⁶.
• Arrearage Payment. This pays your entire past-due balance with a heating or cooling company, once every five years ⁠⁶. You must also be applying for or receiving the FAC ⁠⁶. DSS can limit this help to households with a child under 6, an older adult or a disabled member, or suspend it after 30 days’ public notice ⁠⁶.

Applying to DSS with form 2824-EL

1. Check the 11-month rule

   If you got EAP last year, you cannot reapply until about 11 months after your last benefit ⁠³. Prior recipients are mailed a notice when they can apply again. Older and disabled prior recipients get a simplified re-determination form about 30 days early ⁠⁶⁠⁵.

2. Get the application

   Download form 2824-EL (English) or 2824-ELS (Spanish) from the DSS Apply page. Paper copies are at EAP offices, DSS offices and intake sites ⁠³.

3. Gather proof for everyone in the home

   Include proof of all income for every household member for at least the last 30 days, and ID for the head of household ⁠³. Add proof of legal status for anyone born outside the U.S., and your latest heating and cooling bills ⁠³. If the bill is in someone else’s name, attach that person’s signed authorization with their address and phone number ⁠³.

4. Submit it

   Email the application to [email protected], fax or mail it to an EAP office, or drop it at a DSS office drop box or lobby ⁠³. An intake site can review and mail the packet for you; the Reno, Sparks and Sun Valley sites require an appointment ⁠⁷⁠⁸.

5. Flag an emergency

   If you have a 48-hour notice or someone depends on electric medical equipment, say so on the application. That starts the 48-hour or 18-hour Fast-Track clock ⁠⁵.

6. Wait for the notice of decision

   Applications from households with a member 60 or older, a member with a disability or a child under 6 should be processed within 30 days rather than 60 ⁠⁵. Approved credits are paid to your utility ⁠¹.

If you are denied, or DSS does not act promptly, ask in writing for a hearing within 90 days of the notice date ⁠⁵. After an optional informal conference, a hearing officer holds a formal hearing within 90 days of your request; the decision can be appealed to district court ⁠⁵. DSS reported 17 fair hearings in the prior federal year and reversed none ⁠⁵.

Weatherization through Nevada’s three regional providers

The Nevada Housing Division’s Weatherization Assistance Program does not pay bills. After a home energy assessment, crews may add insulation and weather-stripping, and repair or replace heating and cooling systems, water heaters and refrigerators ⁠¹⁰. The plan adds duct sealing, solar screens and evaporative cooler covers ⁠⁶. The Housing Division puts the income limit at 200% of poverty, or $66,000 a year for four in 2026 ⁠¹⁰⁠¹⁵. Owners and renters both qualify; landlords of some multi-unit buildings pay 50% of capital improvements ⁠¹⁰⁠⁶.

Apply with the provider for your area ⁠¹⁰:

The average job is $8,000 and the cap is $10,000 per home unless Housing Division staff approve more ⁠⁶. A home weatherized by any program in the past five years is not eligible ⁠⁶. Households with a weatherization-related health or safety hazard go first, then those with an older adult, a disabled member or a child under 6 ⁠⁶. If your primary heater fails in winter or your cooler fails in summer, the UEC-funded emergency repair goes ahead of the waiting list. It is limited to owner-occupied homes and households at or below 150% of poverty. Renters’ landlords must keep heating and cooling working under NRS 118A ⁠⁶.

Nevada shutoff rules that buy time while EAP pays

Neither FY 2027 state plan lists a statewide low-income discount rate, so EAP is the main bill program. The protections below come from PUCN rules in chapter 704 of the Nevada Administrative Code. They cover utilities, and landlords who bill for utilities.

• Extreme heat. A utility or landlord must postpone a nonpayment shutoff during any 24-hour period when the National Weather Service forecasts 105°F or higher for your area ⁠¹¹.
• Medical emergency. A shutoff is postponed 30 days once the utility has a statement from a licensed physician, public health official or advanced practice registered nurse that losing service would be especially dangerous to someone’s health, plus your signed statement that you cannot pay or can pay only in installments (up to 60 days, three equal payments). A renewed certificate adds 30 more days ⁠¹². Once the utility knows a shutoff would be dangerous to health, it must try to warn you in person or by phone at least 48 hours ahead ⁠¹⁴.
• Notice. You get a written notice at least 10 days before a shutoff and a second notice at least 48 hours before if you do not respond. In counties with 50,000 or more people, the notice must list how to contact the state welfare agency and local organizations that help with bills ⁠¹³.

DSS decides EAP only through its two offices and listed intake sites, so check that anyone offering to apply for you is on those lists ⁠³⁠⁷⁠⁸. For other programs in the state, see the Nevada assistance hub, or compare states on the energy and utility assistance page.