Low-Income Discount Rate (LIDR)
We strive to provide you and your family with reliable and essential energy delivery, with several programs to assist you financially with your bill. The Low-Income Discount Rate (LIDR) is designed to help eligible residential customers facing financial hardship manage rising energy costs.
Income guidelines and eligible programs
Qualifications and how to apply
Additional assistance and FAQs
Income guidelines and eligible programs
Learn about the current and the new income guidelines (effictive August 3, 2026), as well as eligible programs for the LIDR.
About the current LIDR two-tier structure:
If you qualify, you'll receive a 10% (Tier 1) or 50% (Tier 2) discount on your current monthly charges.
Your discounted rate for the two-tier program will stay in place until August 2, 2026. Eligibility verification is required every year. You will receive a letter to reverify your eligibility 60 days prior to the end of the one-year period.
For more information, please download the Low-Income Discount Rate (LIDR) Fact Sheet.
In August, the LIDR income guidelines will be changing. Learn more about the new LIDR.
Income guidelines (total household)
| Tier 1 (10% discount) (up to 60% State Median Income) |
Tier 2 (50% discount) (up to 160% Federal Poverty Guidelines) |
|
|---|---|---|
| Household size | Annual income at or below | |
| 1 | $47,764 | $25,040 |
| 2 | $62,460 | $33,840 |
| 3 | $77,157 | $42,640 |
| 4 | $91,854 | $51,440 |
| 5 | $106,550 | $60,240 |
| 6 | $121,247 | $69,040 |
| 7 | $124,002 | $77,840 |
| 8 | $126,758 | $86,640 |
Eligible benefits programs
- CHIP
- HUSKY B
- Medicare Savings Programs (MSP)
- Additional Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (ALMB)
- Special Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB)
- Connecticut Energy Assistance Program (CEAP levels 2 and 3)
- State HUSKY B
- Section 8 Housing/Rental Assistance Program (RAP)
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
- Temporary Family Assistance (TFA)
- State Administered General Assistance (SAGA)
- DSS State Cash Assistance, State Supplement
- Women, Infants and Children (WIC)
- State HUSKY A
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
- Refugee Cash Assistance and Refugee Medical Assistance
- Medicaid or Access Health
- HUSKY A, C, D
- Head Start
- Connecticut free or reduced lunch program
- Connecticut Energy Assistance Program (CEAP level 1)
- Medicare Savings Programs (MSP)
- Qualified Medicare Beneficiary Program (QMB)
About the new LIDR five-tier structure:
Beginning August 3, 2026, the Low-Income Discount Rate will change from a two-tier structure to a five-tier structure. If you qualify, you will receive a discount on your electric bill ranging from 5% to 50%. The amount of your discount is based on your household income and/or program participation.
The new discount tiers are 5%, 15%, 20%, 40% and 50%. The updated guidelines for participation are:
Income guidelines (total household)
| Tier 1 (5%) | Tier 2 (15%) | Tier 3 (20%) | Tier 4 (40%) | Tier 5 (50%) | |
| Household size |
Annual income at or below | ||||
| 1 | $47,764 | $33,022 | $25,040 | $19,563 | $15,650 |
| 2 | $62,460 | $44,627 | $33,840 | $26,438 | $21,150 |
| 3 | $77,157 | $56,232 | $42,640 | $33,313 | $26,650 |
| 4 | $91,854 | $67,837 | $51,440 | $40,188 | $32,150 |
| 5 | $106,550 | $79,442 | $60,240 | $47,063 | $37,650 |
| 6 | $121,247 | $91,047 | $69,040 | $53,938 | $43,150 |
| 7 | $124,002 | $102,652 | $77,840 | $60,813 | $48,650 |
| 8 | $126,758 | $114,257 | $86,640 | $67,688 | $54,150 |
Eligible benefits programs
- ALMB / SLMB
- CEAP Level 3
- Husky A Pregnant/Postpartum
- Husky B Band 1
- Husky B Prenatal
- Husky C Long Term Services and Supports (Husky C LTSS)
- Section 8 Housing/Rental Assistance Program (RAP)
- Special / Limited Medical Benefit
- CEAP Level 2
- Connecticut Free or Reduced Lunch
- Husky A Children
- Medicare Savings Program (MSP)
- Qualified Medicare Beneficiary Program (QMB)
- SNAP
- Women Infants and Children (WIC)
- Husky A Parents
- Husky D
- Medicaid or Access Health
- CEAP Level 1
- Head Start
- Husky C (non-LTSS)
- Refugee Assistance
- Social Security Disability Income (SSDI)
- State Administered General Assistance (SAGA)
- State Cash Assistance or State Supplement
- Temporary Family Assistance
Qualifying for the LIDR
Eligibility and tier placement aredetermined by total household size and income, and/or participation in an eligible benefits program by at least one member of your household. Eligibility will need to be verified yearly.
Although the income guidelines and eligible programs are changing, the application process will stay the same.
How to apply
Applying for LIDR is easy. Just follow the simple steps for each option.
If you receive a qualifying state or government benefit:
You can submit a letter certifying that at least one member of your household participates in an eligible benefits program. Send documentation securely by:
- Emailing: hardship@uinet.com
- Faxing: 866.260.1009
- Mailing to the address below:
- United Illuminating
MS OP 1D
100 Marsh Hill Rd. Orange, CT 06477
- United Illuminating
If not currently enrolled in an eligible benefits program, you can gather proof of income for everyone over 18 in the household:
Acceptable documents:
- Unemployment statement
- Employed: Weekly (last four pay stubs), Biweekly (last two paystubs) or Monthly (last paystub)
- Self-employed: most recent year 1099 Tax Form
- Social Security statement
- Child support, pension, retirement or other statement
Send documentation securely by:
- Emailing: hardship@uinet.com
- Faxing: 866.260.1009
- Mailing to the address below:
- United Illuminating
MS OP 1D
100 Marsh Hill Rd. Orange, CT 06477
- United Illuminating
We are here to help!
Even if you do not qualify for LIDR, there may be more programs available to assist you with lowering your energy costs. For more information on our other assistance programs, please visit our Help with Bill page.
Frequently asked questions
They are changing to better accommodate customers with different incomes and participation in different programs.
Yes, you may submit the necessary documentation at any time to support your move to a different tier.
A letter will be sent to let you know if your LIDR eligibility was either approved or denied. You will receive a letter to reverify your eligibility sixty days prior to the end of the one year period. Eligibility will need to be verified yearly.