Winter and storms: a plan for anyone who lives alone
On the Cape the danger is usually the days after a storm: no power, icy steps and nobody passing the house. Before winter, line up two people who will check in, a week of medicines, and snow clearing. In Massachusetts, regulated electric and gas companies cannot shut off a household in financial hardship where everyone is 65 or older. Fuel assistance applications opened 1 October.
- Two people who will check in after every storm, with a key.
- Fuel assistance 2026–27: up to $53,585 income for one person, $70,073 for two.
- Households where everyone is 65+ are protected from electric and gas shut-off in hardship.
- Never run a generator, grill or camp stove indoors.
- Oil and propane are not covered by shut-off rules — keep the tank watched.
Fuel Assistance (LIHEAP), all Cape towns
Key facts
| Fuel assistance season | 1 November – 30 April (applications from 1 October) |
|---|---|
| Fuel assistance income limit, 1 person, 2026–27 | $53,585 |
| Fuel assistance income limit, 2 people, 2026–27 | $70,073 |
| Winter shut-off protection (heat) | 15 November – 15 March |
| Report an Eversource power cut | 800-592-2000 |
What should I do before the first storm?
- Two people who will phone or visit after every storm, and who have a key
- A torch and spare batteries by the bed; a charged power bank for the phone
- A week of medicines, and a written list of them
- A battery carbon-monoxide alarm and working smoke alarms
- Shovelling and sanding arranged in advance — your Council on Aging will know who does it locally
- Oil or propane on automatic delivery, and the tank checked before a cold snap
- If anyone uses oxygen or powered medical equipment: tell the electric company, ask about registering as a life-support customer, and ask the doctor for a letter; have a backup plan for power
- Sign up for your town’s emergency alerts, and ask where the nearest warming centre or shelter is
What do I do when the power goes out?
| Report a power cut (Eversource) | 800-592-2000 |
| Shelters, warming centres and local services, 24 hours 211 Massachusetts | 211 |
| Emergency | 911 |
Never run a generator, grill or camp stove indoors, in a garage or near a window. Carbon monoxide has no smell. If the alarm sounds or you feel dizzy, sick or confused, get outside and call 911.
- Keep the fridge and freezer shut; food stays cold for hours.
- Close off rooms you are not using and gather in one warm room.
- If the house gets too cold, go to a warming centre or a friend’s. Do not stay in a freezing house.
How do I get help paying for heat?
Fuel Assistance (LIHEAP) helps homeowners and renters, including people whose heat is included in the rent, pay heating bills from 1 November to 30 April. Applications for 2026–27 opened on 1 October 2026, and you reapply every year.
| Household size | 2026–27 income limit |
|---|---|
| 1 person | $53,585 |
| 2 people | $70,073 |
| Fuel Assistance (LIHEAP) for Cape Cod Fuel Assistance / LIHEAP (via SSCAC) | 877-383-5243 |
| Energy-efficiency help to lower bills (Lower Cape office in Orleans) Housing Assistance Corporation (HAC) Cape Cod | 508-771-5400 |
Every Council on Aging helps with applications — the easiest way in.
Can the electric or gas company cut me off?
Massachusetts protects some households from shut-off by regulated electric and gas companies when they are in financial hardship:
- When every resident is 65 or older (or all adults are 65+ and a child lives there)
- When someone in the home is seriously ill (a doctor’s certification is needed)
- When there is a baby under 12 months
- Between 15 November and 15 March, when the service heats the home
Tell the company, and ask for the protection in writing. Oil, propane and wood dealers are not covered by these rules. Complaints: the Department of Public Utilities, 617-737-2836.
What about an empty or seasonal house?
- Keep the heat at 55°F or above; ask someone to go inside after every cold snap
- Know where the main water shut-off is, and label it
- Tell the insurer if the house will be empty for a long stretch
More in what happens to a Cape house that has been empty since October.
I live off-Cape. How do I keep an eye on a parent?
- Agree one local person who will check in after every storm, and give them a key.
- Save the Council on Aging and the town’s non-emergency police number in your phone.
- Put fuel on automatic delivery and pay it from an account you can see.
- Ask about volunteer neighbour groups — on the Lower Cape, Nauset Neighbors members get help from volunteers.
Mistakes families make
- Running out of oil in a cold snap because nobody was watching the tank.
- Using a gas oven or a generator in the garage for heat.
- Waiting until December to apply for fuel assistance.
- Assuming someone will notice if an older neighbour’s lights stay off.
- Leaving oxygen or powered equipment without a backup plan.
For professionals and organisations
Councils on Aging, home-care agencies, VNA staff, churches: the “before the first storm” checklist and the fuel-assistance table print on one page for clients who live alone. See how to use these guides.
Common questions
What is the fuel assistance income limit on Cape Cod for 2026–27?
For the 2026–27 season the limit is $53,585 for a one-person household and $70,073 for two. Applications opened on 1 October 2026 and the season runs 1 November to 30 April. Councils on Aging help with applications.
Can the electric company shut off a senior’s power in Massachusetts?
A regulated electric or gas company cannot shut off a household in financial hardship where every resident is 65 or older, or where someone is seriously ill, and heating service is protected from 15 November to 15 March.
How do I report a power outage on Cape Cod?
Eversource customers call 800-592-2000 or report online. For shelters, warming centres and other help, dial 2-1-1. In an emergency, call 911.
Is it safe to use a generator during a power cut?
Only outdoors, well away from doors and windows. Never run a generator, grill or camp stove inside a house or garage; carbon monoxide can kill without any smell.
General information about how things work in Massachusetts and on Cape Cod, not legal, tax, financial or medical advice. Figures and rules change: the date each fact was checked is at the top of the page. How we check facts · Report a mistake.