Utility Connect

Help individuals who qualify for low-income energy assistance programs receive benefits.

Problem

In 2018, the federal government allocated over three billion dollars for LIHEAP to help low-income individuals cover essential utility costs. California alone has allocated over $1M to its California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) program. Despite this influx of support, 31% of U.S. households have trouble paying their utility bills.

Solution

Nonprofits providing bill payment assistance, weatherization, repairs, and other energy assistance for low-income populations can educate, screen, and enroll qualified individuals into their programs through CommunityConnect Lab’s Utility Connect solution.

Challenges

Low-income communities are often unaware of energy assistance programs available to them
Eligible clients struggle to complete the enrollment process
Program staff are overloaded, having to perform outreach, send reminders to, follow-up with and oftentimes re-enroll clients
If clients default on a bill payment, they can become ineligible for future benefits

Benefits

Reach low-income beneficiaries at scale via a multilingual outreach campaign that surveys one’s eligibility for utilities assistance
Streamline intake by automatically scheduling over-the-phone or in-person assistance
Easily recertify existing program participants through automated re-enrollment campaigns and photo-based document verification
Provide engaging communications such as educational messages and automated bill payment reminders

How It Works

Upload phone number contacts or opt-in numbers from outreach like social media, newsletters, events, etc.
Recipients automatically receive a series of informational messages about available utilities assistance programs
Recipients are automatically pre-screened for eligibility (or re-screened for re-enrollment)
Recipients schedule phone calls and intake meetings via text to complete the enrollment process
Recipients text follow-up information such as photos of documents for income verification

Help individuals who qualify for low-income energy assistance programs receive benefits.

Problem

Solution

Challenges

Benefits

How It Works

Watch this brief video overview of Utility Connect’s features