Customers with overdue OPPD bills may qualify for assistance if their household income is at or below 200% of federal poverty guidelines. Funding will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.
By Hola Nebraska
OMAHA, Nebraska — Omaha Public Power District (OPPD) customers who are behind on their electric bills can apply for up to $500 in financial assistance beginning Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026. The assistance is part of a new $6 million investment announced by Google, OPPD and United Way of the Midlands on Oct. 19.
Customers must meet household income and program eligibility requirements. Funding will be available on a first-come, first-served basis, and OPPD has not announced a closing date.
Who qualifies for OPPD’s $500 electric bill assistance?
To qualify, applicants must be OPPD customers with an overdue electric bill and household income at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines. The assistance also follows the rules of OPPD’s Energy Assistance Program.
Based on the 2026 federal poverty guidelines published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the following annual amounts represent 200% of the federal poverty level for households in Nebraska:
| Household size | Annual income at 200% of federal poverty guidelines |
|---|---|
| 1 person | $31,920 |
| 2 people | $43,280 |
| 3 people | $54,640 |
| 4 people | $66,000 |
| 5 people | $77,360 |
| 6 people | $88,720 |
| 7 people | $100,080 |
| 8 people | $111,440 |
For households with more than eight people, the federal 200% threshold increases by $11,360 for each additional household member.
These figures are calculated from the 2026 federal guidelines and are provided as income benchmarks. Program administrators determine eligibility under OPPD’s applicable rules. Meeting the income threshold alone does not guarantee approval.
The maximum assistance is $500 per eligible customer, not a guaranteed payment of that amount. Awards are subject to available funds and the program’s eligibility requirements.
How to apply for OPPD assistance starting Nov. 1
OPPD has identified two application channels for the new assistance:
- Call 211 to connect with assistance resources and request information about applying.
- Apply online through MyAppConnect, the application platform identified in OPPD’s announcement.
MyAppConnect recommends preparing the following information before beginning an application:
- A recent electric bill.
- Names, dates of birth and other information for everyone in the household.
- Recent pay stubs, benefit statements or other proof of income from the past 30 days for household members.
These are documents recommended by MyAppConnect to help applicants complete the process. Administrators may request additional information to determine eligibility.
MyAppConnect also offers a Spanish-language option.
The new funding is scheduled to become available Nov. 1. Customers who need assistance before that date can review OPPD’s existing bill-payment assistance programs.
Google’s $6 million contribution supports several energy programs
The assistance is part of a $6 million contribution from Google that will support projects coordinated with OPPD, United Way of the Midlands and community partners over the next 12 months.
The organizations announced the following allocations:
| Program or initiative | Funding |
|---|---|
| Community resilience hubs | $1,875,000 |
| Weatherization and home energy efficiency | $1,750,000 |
| Direct bill assistance and community resource fairs | $1,250,000 |
| OPPD Greener Together Program | $875,000 |
| Workforce development | $250,000 |
The $1.25 million allocation covers both direct bill assistance and community resource fairs. OPPD has not specified how much of that allocation will go directly toward the $500 assistance awards or how many customers will receive them.
The investment also includes energy-efficiency improvements intended to lower household utility costs. OPPD estimates that weatherization services could reduce monthly utility bills by 20% to 30%, equivalent to approximately $70 to $105 in savings per household.
Those are estimates rather than guaranteed savings. Actual results would depend on the improvements performed and a household’s energy use.
OPPD assistance is separate from Nebraska LIHEAP
The assistance announced by OPPD is separate from Nebraska’s Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which is administered by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services and has its own eligibility rules, income limits and application process.
LIHEAP provides seasonal heating assistance and certain emergency energy benefits for qualifying households statewide. Its income threshold is generally 150% of the federal poverty level, rather than the 200% threshold announced for this OPPD assistance.
Related: Nebraska LIHEAP 2026–27: Income Limits and Heating Assistance
OPPD has not announced an application deadline
Applications for the new assistance begin Nov. 1, 2026, through 211 and MyAppConnect. OPPD has not announced an application deadline or a guaranteed period during which funding will remain available.
Eligible customers may receive up to $500, depending on program requirements and available funding. Details of the investment and application process are included in OPPD’s official October 19 announcement.
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