Assistance Programs

Get Help from the EAP

For information about applying for financial assistance, please call United Way by dialing 211 or calling 402-444-6666 for utility assistance agencies in your area.

Help Others, Support the EAP

OPPD's Energy Assistance Program (EAP) was established in 1988 to help disadvantaged families pay energy-related expenses. Such expenses might include higher-than-normal summer cooling bills or emergency equipment repairs. The program operates year-round.

There are many ways you can help:

• Make a monthly pledge or one-time donation online by completing the Energy Assistance Pledge form.
• Call 402-536-4131 to donate by phone.
• Make a pledge or donation on your OPPD bill statement by marking the appropriate box and adding the contribution to your payment.

Here's the story of someone who was helped by the EAP.
 

Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is funded through the State of Nebraska and helps low-income households stay safe and healthy by providing financial assistance to offset the costs of heating and cooling. LIHEAP particularly helps households that pay a high portion of household income for home energy to meet immediate home energy needs. For more information, visit the State of Nebraska Energy Assistance, or call Nebraska Dept. of Health and Human Services at 402-595-1258 or 800-383-4278 outside Omaha. 

Smart Steps to Saving Energy is a multi-phase program that provides energy efficiency education and assistance managing energy usage within the home.

The Income-Qualified Home Energy Efficiency Program, is a pilot under the Smart Steps program that is designed to help qualified homes be more energy efficient, which can help save money by reducing monthly energy consumption. Customers should work through a listed partner agency in order to get qualified to participate.

Program Details

• Eligible households will receive a home energy efficiency kit, which includes various energy efficiency items
• Receive an in-home energy assessment in order to identify opportunities for additional energy efficiency upgrades within the home
• May qualify for up to $1000 in additional improvements by an OPPD contractor, based on the energy assessment

Eligibility Requirements

• Income eligibility threshold = household income less than 200% of the Federal Poverty Level
• Customer must own their home in the OPPD service territory

How to Apply

The application process will be handled through partnering agencies throughout the service territory. A list of partnering agencies can be found below:

Credit Advisors Foundation –
Service Area: Omaha Metro
1818 S 72nd St, Omaha, NE 68124
(402) 393-3100

Douglas County Housing Authority –
Service Area: Omaha Metro
5404 N 107th Plaza, Omaha, NE 68134
(402) 444-6203

Eastern Nebraska Community Action Partnership (ENCAP) –
Service Area: Omaha Metro
2406 Fowler Ave, Omaha, NE 68111
(402) 453-5656

Family Housing Advisory Services –
Service Area: Omaha Metro
2401 Lake St, Omaha, NE 68111
(402) 934-7921

Habitat for Humanity of Omaha (HFHO) –
Service Area: Omaha Metro
1701 N 24th St, Omaha, NE 68110
(402) 457-5657

Project Houseworks –
Service Area: Elderly Homeowners in the Omaha Metro
2316 S 24th St, Omaha, NE 68108
(402) 965-9201

Christian Outreach Program Elkhorn (COPE) –
Service Area: Elkhorn, Valley, Bennington, Waterloo, and Saunders County
333 S 204th St, Elkhorn, NE 68022
(402) 616-2330

Northeast Nebraska Community Action Partnership (NENCAP) –
Service Area: Burt, Washington, Dodge, and Colfax
603 Earl St, Pender, NE 68047
(402) 385-6300

Southeast Nebraska Community Action Partnership (SENCAP) –
Service Area: Sarpy, Cass, Otoe, Johnson, Nemaha, Pawnee, and Richardson Counties
802 Fourth Street, Humboldt, NE 68376
(402) 862-2411

Contact Information

If you have questions, email smartsteps@oppd.com or call 531-226-3515.

Spanish Translation

Today, 30% of the average OPPD residential bill is fixed, meaning it doesn’t change with the amount of energy used.  However, for OPPD, 70% of costs are spent on infrastructure, equipment and other expenses incurred which do not change with the amount of energy being consumed. 

After a series of increases since January 2016, the service charge for residential and small commercial customers is $30 and $33, respectively. There are no plans to increase these amounts at this time. OPPD’s service charge more accurately reflects customer and distribution costs – expenses incurred, no matter how much energy is used. See the Rate Restructuring FAQs for more information.

OPPD Cares – we understand the restructure will impact some low-use, low-income customers. To help with this transition, OPPD will offer credits to qualifying customers.

*Bill Credit Program will end May 31, 2020.

Credits will be available to customers who are qualified by the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and whose energy use is less than 600 kWh in a month.

If you are already LIHEAP-qualified, there is nothing more to do. Each full month your energy use falls below 600 kWh, you will automatically see a credit on your OPPD bill.

If you have not applied for LIHEAP, call 402-595-1258, outside Omaha 800-383-4278, or apply at Access Nebraska.

To find the application on Access Nebraska website:

• Choose English or Spanish
• Find Printable Forms under Other Useful Links
• Choose the Application for Benefits form (EA-117)
• Once qualified (usually within 30 days), LIHEAP will notify OPPD and you will receive a credit each month your energy use falls below 600 kWh.

Monthly electric service bills may vary widely throughout the year. Customers with an account that is current in its payments can enroll in OPPD's Level Payment Plan, and gain the convenience of knowing exactly how much monthly payments will be, no matter what the weather. LEARN MORE