If we need documents from you, PSE or your local community agency will contact you using the information from your application. We’ll tell you what documents are needed and how to send them to us.

No appointment needed for PSE HELP or Bill Discount Rate! However, we encourage you to reach out to your local community agency to find out more about their other programs and services, including the federally funded LIHEAP program.

Once you submit your application, your local community agency reviews your PSE HELP application and PSE reviews your Bill Discount Rate application. Please allow:

• 30 days for Bill Discount Rate
• 60 days for PSE HELP

This happens for one of two reasons:

• Your Bill Discount Rate application is still being processed, or
• Your re-enrollment window wasn’t open yet when you applied for PSE HELP

Here’s why: PSE HELP is once per October 1 to September 30 program year. Bill Discount Rate has a 13 month enrollment term. You can re-apply for Bill Discount Rate starting 30 days before your enrollment term ends.

It depends on your situation:

• You DON’T need to apply separately if: you’re new to our programs, you’re in your BDR re-enrollment window, or your BDR enrollment has ended.
• You DO need to apply separately if: you’re currently getting BDR but aren’t in your re-enrollment window yet

We’ll let you know in one or more ways:

• A notice on your bill
• A reminder email (if you have a myPSE account with an accurate email address)
• If you put email as your preferred communication method on your application, check your original enrollment email

Yes, please continue paying the full amount shown on your bills.

This usually means you logged into an inactive account. Try one of these options:

• Log into your myPSE account with your username and password for an active account
• Use the guest experience to apply without logging into myPSE

If you select email as your preferred communication method on your application, you’ll get an email for each program that was denied. If you select phone or mail, you’ll get a call and/or a mailed letter before or after the denial. If you have questions about a denial:

PSE HELP: contact your local community agency

BDR: email billdiscount@pse.com

You need to be listed on the bill as either the primary account holder or a co-customer. If you’re not listed on the bill, you can contact PSE to be added to the account then apply. If you’re helping someone else apply then they’re the applicant (not you).

Include all adults and children who live in your home. Here are some special situations:

• Shared custody: only the parent the child/children live with most of the time should include them as household members
• Live-in caregivers: Don’t include someone who only lives in your home to provide care like housekeeping, childcare, or medical care
• Renters: If the renter is not related to you, don’t count them as a household member or list their income but do list the rent you’re paid as part of your income. If the renter is related to you, count them as a household member, include their income as household income, and don’t count any rent they pay you as part of your income.
• Roommates: All roommates should be listed as household members and all roommates income count as income.

Enter your household’s gross monthly income (before taxes or deductions). Our system will automatically calculate your household’s net income by deducting taxes. As you fill out the income section, read the descriptions carefully – they’ll tell you if you need to exclude anything.

• Military income: payment for Active Duty and Guard/Reserve Duty
• Veterans Affairs (VA) Benefits: any financial or other assistance from the VA to U.S. Veterans, dependents, and survivors.
• Don’t include: Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC)

Enter $0 as your household’s income, even if someone will start receiving paychecks soon or is temporarily not being paid (like during a government shut down).

Provide your household’s total monthly income for the previous month, including any bonuses or extra payments.

This describes how you live in your home:

• Own/buy: you own your home (even with a mortgage)
• Subsidized: your housing is subsidized (even partially)
• Rental: You rent your home
• If you own your mobile home but rent the space, select own/buy.

Choose the best description of your home:

• 1-3 family home: single-family dwelling, a duplex, a triplex or other consisting of three or fewer connected units
• 4+ family home: apartment or condo with four or more units
• Hi-Rise: apartment building with three or more floors
• Mobile: mobile home
• RV: recreational vehicle

We randomly select some customers who have enrolled in Bill Discount Rate to verify the information on their application. This helps us make sure that only qualifying customers are enrolled in Bill Discount Rate, or our other bill assistance programs. If selected, you’ll have 90 days to provide documents that show your household income, how many people are in your household, and your identification.

If you’re selected, your local community agency will reach out with instructions on what documents you need to provide and how to send them.

If you’re selected and don’t complete the verification process, your enrollment in Bill Discount Rate will end and you might not receive PSE HELP. You'll need to complete the verification process when you apply again in the future.

Please reach out to your local community agency.

Your local community agency will let you know when the process has finished, whether you’re eligible, and any other updates about your enrollment.

If you choose email as your preferred communication method on your application(s) then you’ll get an email when each application is approved that includes your discount percentage or grant amount. Both programs will also show up on your PSE bill once they start.

Your Bill Discount Rate should automatically re-start when you’re reconnected. Your enrollment end date stays the same. Check your first bills after reconnection to make sure the discount appears. If it doesn’t, email us at billdiscount@pse.com for help.

Within PSE’s service territory:

• PSE HELP: unused PSE HELP funds move to your new PSE account
• Bill Discount Rate: Usually transfers automatically with no action needed. Check your first bills at your new address to confirm your discount appears. If not, email us at billdiscount@pse.com for help

Outside PSE’s service territory:

• PSE HELP: unused funds return to the program
• Bill Discount Rate: your enrollment ends

Standard enrollment length: 13 months

When to re-apply: starting at month 12 (giving you a 30 day window to re-apply while staying on BDR).

If you miss the re-enrollment window, you can still re-apply for Bill Discount Rate but you’ll see a gap in receiving the discount.

What gets discounted: only new energy and service charges after enrollment (not past charges).

No, applying for or receiving these programs should not affect establishing citizenship.

No, both PSE HELP and Bill Discount Rate are funded by PSE ratepayers, not the government.

Your information is protected. We only use the information you provide for these programs. If you have questions about how we handle your personal information, please visit our privacy page.

No. In fact, these programs are required to participate in PSE’s Past Due Bill Forgiveness program. Additionally, receiving Bill Discount Rate or PSE HELP will not impact your ability to get other assistance from your local community agency.

You don’t need to report changes in household size or income. Just update the information when you re-apply each year.

Yes, receiving a utility allowance doesn’t impact your ability to enroll in these programs.

Yes, please continue to pay the full amount due on your bills, including any payment arrangement amounts.

Please contact PSE at billdiscount@pse.com or (888) 225-5773 if you’re told PSE HELP funding has run out.

No. PSE will not ask you to pay back any discounted amounts or PSE HELP grants.

The Bill Discount Rate program is PSE’s only discount program and is open to income qualified seniors.

Many utility providers offer similar programs. Contact them directly or check their website to see what they offer.

Contact your local community agency to apply for those programs.