Unexpected financial hardships can make it difficult to keep up with everyday expenses, including your natural gas bill. The Energy Support Assistance Program (ESAP) provides natural gas bill assistance to eligible Lake Apopka Natural Gas District residential customers experiencing a recent financial hardship. If a loss of income, medical expense, family emergency, or another unexpected event has affected your ability to pay your bill, assistance may be available.
Review the eligibility requirements below to determine whether you may qualify, what documentation you’ll need and how to apply.
Financial Assistance for Residential Customers
Eligible households may receive assistance up to two times and up to $350 total per household, per account, during a 12-month period. The 12-month period begins when the customer first receives assistance. Assistance may be applied toward an eligible past-due balance. A current balance may also be considered.
Who Is Eligible?
To be considered for assistance through the Energy Support Assistance Program, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Be a Lake Apopka Natural Gas District residential customer.
- Be the primary account holder or an authorized user on the account.
- Have an eligible current or past-due account balance.
- Have no history of tampering with or theft of utility services.
- Have experienced a qualifying financial hardship within the last 90 days.
- Provide the required hardship statement and supporting financial documentation.
Assistance is limited to two occurrences and no more than $350 total, per account, within the applicable 12-month period.
Expenses Not Covered by the Program
Assistance cannot be used to pay:
- NSF or returned-check fees
- Account setup fees
- New or additional deposits
- Tampering fees
- After-hour fee
What Financial Hardships May Qualify?
Applicants must describe a financial hardship that occurred within the previous 90 days.
Examples of qualifying hardships may include:
- Loss of employment or a reduction in income
- Medical illness, injury, or disability
- High or unexpected medical expenses
- Death of a household member or primary income provider
- Divorce, separation, or loss of household income
- A natural disaster or emergency, such as a fire or flood
- An unexpected major expense or financial emergency
- Increased caregiving responsibilities
- Loss of transportation or a vehicle breakdown that affects employment
- Another unforeseen financial hardship
Experiencing one of these events does not automatically guarantee assistance. Applications are reviewed based on program eligibility requirements and the supporting information provided.
What You’ll Need to Apply
Before beginning your application for natural gas bill assistance, gather the information and documentation needed to verify your hardship.
Applicants may be asked to provide one or more of the following:
- Contact and account information
- The amount of assistance requested
- A description of the financial hardship experienced within the last 90 days
- Proof of financial hardship
- Proof of income
- Bank statements
- Other supporting documentation applicable to the circumstances
Providing complete documentation with your application can help LANGD review your request as efficiently as possible.
What Happens After You Apply?
The District will make every attempt to review completed applications within two (2) business days. Once your application for assistance is reviewed, you will receive updates via email.
If you have questions about your account or the application process, contact us at CustomerService@langd.org for assistance.
