Resumption of Disconnections for Nonpayment
In April 2022, BED eliminated pandemic-related, past-due balances for residential customers with active accounts by using American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds allocated by the City of Burlington and invited eligible commercial customers with active accounts that have past-due balances to complete pandemic-related economic hardship certifications to request assistance from available ARPA funds.
Beginning on May 1, 2022, BED resumed our regular policy of disconnection for nonpayment, including sending letters to alert customers of past-due balances that could lead to disconnection of electric service.
As always, we ask our customers to please pay your electric bills on time each month to avoid any service interruptions. BED continues to offer expanded budget payment plans, and our goal always is to work with our customers to avoid any disconnections. We encourage our customers to contact the BED Customer Care team to make payment arrangements and ask questions to avoid disconnections.
Assistance Programs
Throughout the pandemic, BED has focused on supporting our customers who have experienced financial hardships. BED reminds our customers about the continued availability of the following assistance programs and encourages you to apply:
BED Energy
Assistance Program
Assistance is available to income-qualified customers in the form of a monthly bill credit of 12.5%.
Vermont Homeowner
Assistance Program
Vermont HAP helps prevent home foreclosure and displacement with assistance for overdue mortgage payments, homeowners association fees, property taxes, and utilities.
Vermont Emergency Rental
Assistance Program
VERAP helps renters with pandemic-related financial challenges pay for rent, electricity, gas, water, sewer, trash removal, fuel oil, wood and pellets.
Net Zero Energy News
- Burlington Electric Department Outlines Fiscal Year 2023 Rate Change Plan May 18, 2022 - 3.95 Percent Rate Increase Proposed; Average Residential Bill Will Increase $3.10 Per Month; BED Residential Rates Projected to Continue to
- Mayor and BED Redouble Electrification Efforts to Become Net Zero Energy City January 27, 2022 - New and Expanded BED Electrification Incentives Announced
Series of Town Hall Meetings to Engage Community in Net Zero Energy Goal to Start in March
Legislators Weigh In on Importance of Supporting Burlington’s Net Zero Energy Goal with Action in Montpelier - Voters Strongly Support Net Zero Energy Revenue Bond December 7, 2021 - Burlington, VT – Today, voters overwhelmingly approved the $20 million Net Zero Energy Revenue Bond for Burlington Electric Department with
- Net Zero Energy Revenue Bond September 27, 2021 - BED is pleased to present the Net Zero Energy Revenue Bond proposal to our community as a fiscally-responsible approach to
- Mayor Weinberger and Burlington Electric Department Propose Net Zero Energy Revenue Bond September 1, 2021 - Strategic Electrification to Double; Green Stimulus Incentives to Continue; Moody’s Affirms BED A3 Credit Rating