Black Hills or Xcel Customers: You may be able to lower your electric bill
If you are a Black Hills or Xcel electric customer, you most likely are seeing or will soon see a substantial increase in your bill. There may be a way to lower electric bills if you have a medical issue requiring higher energy use.
The Colorado Medical Exemption Program may be a partial solution to lower your monthly electric bill. Please use the links below to learn more about this Program; the deadline for Xcel users to apply is May 1st, and the Black Hills program accepts applications on an ongoing basis.
For Xcel customers…
https://co.my.xcelenergy.com/s/billing-payment/energy-assistance/medical-exemption-program
For Black Hills customers...
https://www.blackhillsenergy.com/billing-and-payments/assistance-programs/colorado-medical-exemption-program
You can also simply call the Chronic Care Collaborative for an application to be mailed or with questions at 303-993-5056.
SSI recipients: The Affordable Connectivity Program can help you get internet access
Internet access is necessary for work, school, healthcare, and more. However, for many households, it remains unaffordable. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) wants everyone to access reasonably priced internet services. The FCC recently launched a new program to reduce the cost of getting online. The
Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) provides a discount of up to:
- $30 per month toward internet service for eligible households.
- $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands.
Eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 toward purchasing a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers. To qualify for this one-time discount, households must contribute more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase price.
Any household with an individual who receives Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is eligible to receive discounted internet service through the ACP. Social Security doesn’t count ACP assistance as income or a resource for SSI purposes. Receipt of this assistance will not affect your SSI payment. You may also be eligible if your household participates in other assistance programs, such as:
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
- Medicaid
- Federal Public Housing Assistance
- Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
- Lifeline
If you don’t receive SSI or participate in another qualifying assistance program, you may also be eligible if your household income is at or below 200% of the
Federal Poverty Guidelines.
There are additional ways to qualify. Go to the
Affordable Connectivity Program page to learn more and apply. If you have questions, you’ll find
a consumer FAQ that can help, along with
a list of participating internet service providers sorted by state.
Cost shouldn’t be a barrier to getting online. Being connected can help you find job opportunities and access telehealth services, saving you time and transportation costs. And with affordable internet services, students no longer need to rely on public Wi-Fi hotspots to do their homework or for distance learning. The ACP helps close the digital divide.
