With more than 40 million Americans filing for unemployment benefits since the pandemic began, Atmos Energy stands ready to help with financial assistance solutions that can provide critical utility bill relief for the most vulnerable families struggling to balance mounting expenses.

Atmos Energy’s Sharing the Warmth program and the federal Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) offer financial assistance to prevent disconnection of service and enable timely bill payments.

Sharing the Warmth leverages the generosity of customer donations with additional contributions by Atmos Energy to amplify the amount of assistance offered. Atmos Energy then partners with local agencies to offer program funds to eligible customers.

“Sharing the Warmth funds really benefit people on fixed incomes between $750 and $1,250 per month,” said Kay Lowe, Johnson County Human Services Department multi service center manager. “When our clients receive Sharing the Warmth funds, they leave my office saying they will be able to sleep soundly now that a weight has been lifted off their shoulders.”

Atmos Energy also offers installment plans that spread out payments of the total balance over time. Customers wanting to set up an installment plan may visit www.atmosenergy.com, log into the Atmos Energy Account Center and click the Payment Assistance tab, or call the Atmos Energy customer service team at 888.286.6700 Monday through Friday between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. central time.

“A mother battling health issues recently came to the office in need of payment assistance for her family's electricity and Atmos Energy bills," said Tomeka Rhine, case manager in Oktibbeha County, Mississippi. "While she searched for employment, LIHEAP provided funding to pay her utility bills and keep her home comfortable. We are proud to report that the mother now has full time employment and is extremely grateful for the lifesaving support during such a stressful time."

LIHEAP primarily assists households that need to allocate an uncomfortably high share of their income towards home energy bills, helping to manage costs associated with energy crises, weatherization and other minor, energy-related home repairs. LIHEAP also helps families stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer through programs that reduce the risk of health and safety problems arising from unsafe heating and cooling practices.

Financial assistance is available on a first come, first served basis to eligible residential customers through a local energy assistance agency. Customers may locate an agency by visiting https://www.atmosenergy.com/customer-service/bill-payment-assistance or calling 211. Customers needing solutions to keep up with their monthly natural gas expenses are encouraged to contact Atmos Energy’s customer service team at 888.286.6700 or visit the account center at https://www.atmosenergy.com/accountcenter/logon/login.html.