How to Complete PSE Application Forms: BDR, LIHEAP, Rebates, and Construction

Puget Sound Energy uses different application forms depending on what you need: bill assistance (the Bill Discount Rate, which also triggers a HELP credit), equipment rebates for qualifying heat pumps, and construction service applications for new gas or electric connections. Each has its own submission path, its own eligibility rules, and in some cases its own gatekeeper, so the first step is matching your situation to the right form.

Which Form You Need

Three programs cover most household requests to PSE:

The Bill Discount Rate (BDR) gives you an ongoing monthly discount of 5% to 45%, based on household income and size.¹
The Home Energy Lifeline Program (HELP) is a one-time bill credit of up to $1,000 applied to your account.²
The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is federally funded and runs through your county’s community action agency, with income capped at 150% of the federal poverty level.³

You do not need a separate HELP form. Submitting the BDR application automatically starts a HELP application at the same time. LIHEAP is different: because the money is federal, you apply through your county agency rather than PSE directly.¹

How to Complete the Bill Discount Rate Application

The BDR form is short and online. You can submit it through your PSE digital account or as a guest without registering. In most cases PSE does not ask for proof of income at the time you apply.¹

Have your 12-digit PSE account number ready. It appears on your monthly bill in the bottom-right corner, inside a yellow box.⁴ The form asks for:

The number of people in your household
Your household’s monthly net income, meaning take-home pay after taxes and program-allowed deductions, not gross pay

Entering gross income instead of net is the most common mistake, and it can either disqualify you outright or trigger a verification request later. Count everyone who lives in the home; leaving someone out and adding them later during verification is another common cause of rejected applications.

Who Qualifies for BDR

Eligibility depends on household net income, household size, and the county you live in. The ceiling is set at 80% of area median income for your county or 200% of the federal poverty level, whichever is greater.¹ Area median income varies across PSE’s service territory, so the same paycheck can qualify in one county and not another.

PSE counts most regular income when you complete the form: wages, Social Security, pensions, self-employment income after expenses, unemployment, child support, rental income, and student aid. Several sources are excluded and should be left out of the income figure you enter:

Energy assistance payments
Income tax refunds
Section 8 or other housing subsidies
WIC benefits
One-time cash gifts
Reverse mortgage proceeds
Earnings by household members in high school or under 18¹

If PSE Asks for Verification

After you enroll, some accounts are pulled for verification. If yours is one of them, you have 90 days to submit documents covering three things: proof of household income, proof of household size, and identification. PSE does not publish a specific document list, but recent pay stubs or a tax return, plus a government-issued ID, will typically cover all three categories.¹ Missing the 90-day window is a preventable reason for losing the discount.

Once approved, the discount appears as a percentage reduction on your next billing cycle. The HELP credit, if you receive one, is applied directly to your account balance.²

Applying for LIHEAP Through Your County Agency

LIHEAP requires a separate application through your county’s community action agency. The same agencies also handle PSE’s Home Weatherization Assistance and offer in-person help if you would rather work through a paper form or need guidance completing the BDR online.⁵ LIHEAP funds are limited each year, so applying early in the program cycle improves your odds.

Larger counties have more than one agency, and which one you use depends on where you live within the county:

King County: Multi-Service Center (South King), Hopelink (North and East King), Byrd Barr Place and Seattle Office of Housing for Seattle residents
Pierce County: Pierce County Human Services, or Metropolitan Development Council for Tacoma
Snohomish County: Snohomish Human Services Department or the county Department of Conservation and Resources
Thurston and Lewis Counties: Community Action Council of Lewis, Mason and Thurston Counties
Whatcom and Island Counties: Opportunity Council
Kitsap County: Kitsap Community Resources
Skagit County: Community Action of Skagit County or Housing Authority of Skagit County
Kittitas County: HopeSource⁵

Heat Pump Rebates: No Customer Form

PSE’s heat pump conversion rebates work differently from the assistance programs. You do not fill out a rebate application yourself. Your contractor submits the paperwork, and the rebate is applied as a discount on your installation invoice.⁶

The standard rebate for converting from electric resistance heating to a qualifying air-source heat pump is $1,500. Income-qualified customers can receive an Efficiency Boost rebate of $2,400, or up to $4,000 when converting from a natural gas system. Only one rebate applies per single-family residence, and the rebate cannot exceed the post-tax price of the equipment.⁶

Two conditions decide whether the rebate will actually be paid:

The installer must be part of PSE’s Recommended Energy Professional or Trade Ally network. Out-of-network contractors and DIY installations don’t qualify.
The equipment must meet PSE’s specs. Ductless heat pumps must be AHRI Certified as variable-speed mini-split or multi-split units, use inverter technology, and have a minimum heating capacity of three-quarter ton. Ducted systems must also be AHRI certified. Both types must meet or exceed the current national energy efficiency standard for residential heat pumps. Fully ductless systems qualify; systems that use any ducting to deliver conditioned air do not.⁶

If you’re going for the Efficiency Boost amount, your installer will have you sign an income attestation on-site at the time of installation. There is no separate income form to submit beforehand, but the attestation is binding, so answer truthfully.⁶ Keep a copy of the invoice showing the rebate line item.

New Service and Construction Applications

If you’re building, adding a structure, or extending gas or electric lines to a property, you start with PSE’s construction services application, submitted through the construction services portal.⁷

After submission, PSE assigns a project manager who will collect the rest of what’s needed: site address, billing details, square footage, load information, panel amperage, heating source, and a CAD drawing or PDF of your site plan. From there the project manager builds a timeline, flags required permits and easements, and carries the design and engineering work forward with you.⁷

Two fee and threshold details are worth knowing before you file:

As of January 2026, PSE collects an upfront $3,000 design fee for commercial line extension and relocation projects filed under Schedule 85. This payment is applied toward total project costs. If the project is cancelled and actual costs are less than $3,000, PSE refunds the difference; if actual costs exceed the payment at cancellation, you owe the remainder.
Businesses expecting electric loads of 1 MW or higher, or gas loads of 1,900 SCFH or greater, should submit a separate feasibility request before filing the standard application.⁷

PSE’s construction services line is 1-888-321-7779, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.⁷

If Your Application Is Denied

Contact PSE first and ask for the specific reason. Common ones are income above the threshold, household members left off the application, or data on the form that doesn’t match your verification documents. If the denial came out of the BDR verification step, you may still be able to correct and resubmit within the 90-day window.

If PSE can’t resolve the issue, the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission takes consumer complaints. You can file an informal complaint through the UTC’s online form, by emailing consumer@utc.wa.gov, or by calling 1-888-333-9882 on weekdays, though the hotline is closed Tuesdays and Thursdays. Written complaints go to P.O. Box 47250, Olympia, WA 98504.⁸

UTC staff will look at whether PSE followed the applicable rules and tariffs. If the informal process doesn’t resolve the dispute, you can petition the UTC for a formal complaint, which operates like a legal proceeding where you carry the burden of proof.⁸

1
Puget Sound Energy. Bill Discount Rate
2
Puget Sound Energy. HELP
3
Washington State Department of Commerce. Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
4
Puget Sound Energy. Create Your Online Account
5
Puget Sound Energy. Find Your Local County Agency
6
Puget Sound Energy. Electric Resistance to Air-Source Heat Pump Conversion Rebate
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Puget Sound Energy. Building Project Steps and Applications
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Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission. File a Complaint