PECO and United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey are energizing our commitment to the communities we serve by launching additional temporary relief fund that provides support for those challenged with high energy costs.

Program Overview

We understand that any change in your living expenses can be challenging to manage. That’s why customers will be able to apply for assistance through our temporary PECO Customer Relief Fund, a fund administered by the United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey that will provide eligible PECO customers one-time grants of $750.

The additional PECO Customer Relief Fund contribution is made possible through a charitable donation from Exelon, PECO's parent company, and is designed to support low-income and limited- to middle-income customers.

We recognize that customers are bearing the brunt of increasing energy costs as demand rises and supply is not there to meet it. While PECO and Exelon do not control energy supply costs, the company remains committed to advocating for customers and working on long-term solutions.

Eligibility Criteria

The PECO Customer Relief Fund is available for qualified residential customers in the PECO service area. To be eligible to participate in the fund, you must meet the following criteria: 

• Be a current PECO residential electric and/or natural gas customer
• Have a household annual income not exceeding 150% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL)
• Have a past-due balance of no more than $2,500 or, along with a customer co-payment, can bring the balance down to $2,500
• Have no theft-of-service charges on the PECO account in the past 12 months

2026 Federal Poverty Level (FPL) Income Guidelines

To qualify for the PECO Customer Relief Fund, your household income must not exceed these amounts: 

Note: Customers with annual household incomes of 150% FPL and below may qualify for other financial assistance programs from PECO. Visit peco.com/help for further information.

• Applying for this program does not prevent disconnection of service if the amount of funds does not satisfy your outstanding balance. We encourage customers to continue to pay their PECO bill during the application process
• If your electricity has already been shut off, applying for this program does not guarantee reconnection
• Submitting an application does not guarantee that you will receive financial assistance
• Income documentation is required
• You must be receiving a separate PECO bill from your rent statement

How to Apply

• Applications will be online and will be processed in the order in which they are received. First come, first served.
• Visit this webpage for a link to the online application

PECO would like to thank the United Way of Greater Philadelphia & Southern New Jersey, along with the following community partners, for their invaluable support of the Customer Relief Fund program. Further information about the program and participating organizations is available on the United Way website. 

• ACLAMO
• Open Hearth, Inc.
• United Way of Bucks County
• Community Action Agency of Delaware County, Inc. (CAADC)
• Campaign for Working Families
• Cambodian Association of Greater Philadelphia (CAGP)
• Greater Philadelphia Community Alliance (GPCA)
• YWCA Tri-County Area

Response times may vary depending on the volume of submissions and the verification process. If approved, customers can expect the grant to be applied to their account in approximately one to two billing cycles from approval date.

PECO Assistance Year-Round

Although the PECO Customer Relief Fund is a temporary program, it complements our existing year-round assistance programs that help alleviate costs and make energy costs easier to manage for customers. Customers can visit peco.com/help for more ways to manage their bill, use energy more efficiently, or access energy assistance. This includes:

• PECO’s self-service Assistance Finder, which provides simple and personalized recommendations
• Payment arrangements and due-date extensions. For extenuating circumstances needing payment arrangements beyond 12 months, please call PECO at 1-800-494-4000
• Budget billing information and online self-serve sign-up for customers who prefer a predictable monthly bill that spreads energy costs throughout the year

Partnership Grant Program

Benefits Access & Basic Needs Pillar - Now Open

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United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey is pleased to announce the launch of the Benefits Access & Basic Needs Pillar within the Partnership Grant Program (PGP).

This pillar recognizes that economic mobility is not possible without stability. Too many families across our nine-county region are working, contributing, and striving — yet remain one emergency away from crisis. Strengthening access to public benefits and stabilizing basic needs are foundational steps toward long-term opportunity.

Funding Overview

• Award Amount: $100,000
• Funding Type: General operating support
• Grant Term: Two years

Application Timeline

• RFP Open: March 13, 2026
• Application Deadline: May 2, 2026

Purpose

The Benefits Access & Basic Needs Pillar seeks to support organizations that:

• Increase enrollment in public benefits (e.g., SNAP, Medicaid, LIHEAP, TANF, tax credits, housing supports)
• Provide navigation and case management services that connect households to available resources
• Reduce barriers to accessing benefits, particularly for ALICE* households and historically marginalized communities
• Address immediate basic needs in ways that are connected to longer-term stabilization strategies

We are especially interested in models that combine direct service with systems-level improvements that simplify, streamline, or improve the benefits access process.

Why This Matters

Public benefits are not charity — they are tools that families have earned and deserve. When households can access health coverage, food assistance, housing support, and tax credits, they are better positioned to pursue education, employment, and asset-building opportunities.

Stabilization is the first step toward opportunity.

Strategic Priorities

Proposals should align with one or more of the following priorities:

1. Benefits Enrollment & Navigation

• Community-based enrollment assistance
• Multilingual and culturally responsive outreach
• Embedded benefits navigators in trusted institutions

2. Integrated Service Delivery

• Co-located or coordinated services that reduce duplication and fragmentation
• Cross-sector partnerships that improve client experience

3. Equitable Access & Outreach

• Targeted engagement in under-resourced neighborhoods
• Addressing digital access barriers
• Building trust in communities historically excluded from public systems

4. Data & Continuous Improvement

• Tracking enrollment outcomes
• Identifying systemic barriers
• Informing policy or administrative improvements

Funding Approach

United Way seeks to support organizations that demonstrate:

• Strong community trust and track record
• Clear outcomes related to enrollment and stabilization
• Collaboration with public agencies and community partners
• Commitment to equity and measurable impact

Funding may support program operations, staffing (e.g., benefits navigators), outreach efforts, and capacity to track outcomes.

Desired Outcomes

Through this pillar, United Way aims to:

• Increase successful enrollment in public benefits
• Reduce income volatility for working families
• Strengthen household stability
• Improve coordination across the benefits ecosystem
• Lay the groundwork for long-term economic mobility

* ALICE – Asset-limited, income-constrained, employed.

About the Partnership Grant Program

The Partnership Grant Program is structured around four strategic pillars:

1. Education & Mentorship (application closed 2/28/2026)
2. Economic Mobility
3. Jobs, Opportunities, & Entrepreneurship
4. Benefits Access & Basic Needs

RFPs for the remaining pillars will be released on a staggered schedule throughout the fiscal year.

We encourage nonprofit partners to review the RFP and apply during the open application period.

To apply for a Partnership Grant Program grant, applicants must meet ALL of the following criteria:

• Tax exempt under IRS Section 501(c)3
• Located in one of the following PA or NJ counties: Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, Philadelphia, Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland
• Mission focused on alleviating poverty in the Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey region
• Operate programs in and/or provide services to one or more of the following PA or NJ counties: Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, Philadelphia, Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland
• Offer programs, services, or activities that align with our Benefits Access & Basic Needs pillar
• Offer services without regard to age, gender, race, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, or presence of a disability

The following types of organizations are NOT eligible to apply:

• Animal welfare organizations
• Colleges and universities, unless the majority of their students are experiencing or at risk of experiencing poverty
• Childcare centers, unless they also provide programming beyond childcare such as youth development and/or family support services
• Hospitals
• Libraries
• Government and quasi-government agencies
• K-12 schools, unless the school predominantly serves Opportunity Youth
• Organizations headquartered outside of the Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey region (local chapters of national organizations can be considered if they raise more than half of their revenue locally)
• Organizations that regrant funding