Poteau • Heavener • LeFlore County
Are There Any Resources in Poteau That Help Pay an Electric Deposit?
Short answer: start with KiBois Community Action at 219 Kerr Avenue in Poteau, (918) 647-3267. It offers one-time emergency utility help to families in a money crisis, paid straight to the utility, and you apply in person on weekdays between 8 AM and 4:30 PM. Ask if it can go toward a deposit. The Salvation Army in Heavener, (918) 653-4815, is another place to ask.
Electric deposit help in Poteau
The short answer
Yes. The first call is KiBois Community Action, 219 Kerr Avenue in Poteau, (918) 647-3267. KiBois offers yearly one-time rental or utility help to families in a financial crisis. The money is paid straight to the utility company, and you have to apply in person, weekdays between 8 AM and 4:30 PM, with your papers. Funds depend on what is available, so call first and ask if it can help with a new-service deposit.
The Salvation Army in Heavener, 106 Gretna, (918) 653-4815, is listed by Arkansas Oklahoma Gas as a LeFlore County place to ask for help with utility payments. You can also dial 211 to hear about other help near you.
Once your power is on, Oklahoma Human Services opens LIHEAP winter heating help on Tuesday, December 15, 2026, at OKDHSLive.org. It helps with the heating bill, not the deposit, but it can free up money while you get settled.
- KiBois Community Action: 219 Kerr Ave, Poteau · (918) 647-3267 · apply in person, weekdays 8 AM to 4:30 PM
- Salvation Army: 106 Gretna, Heavener · (918) 653-4815
- LIHEAP winter heating: opens Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2026 at OKDHSLive.org · (405) 522-5050
- DHS in Poteau: 511 S Harper St · (918) 649-2300
- Electric companies: OG&E 1-800-522-0280 · Kiamichi Rural Electric 1-800-888-2731
- Anything else: Dial 211
💡 Start here
KiBois Community Action emergency help
KiBois Community Action offers yearly, one-time rental or utility help to families who fall behind because of something like a big medical bill, a job change or a car repair. It is emergency help only, not ongoing, and it depends on how much funding is left.
Apply in person at the LeFlore County office, 219 Kerr Avenue in Poteau, weekdays between 8 AM and 4:30 PM. Applications are not taken by mail, and the money goes straight to the utility company or landlord. Call (918) 647-3267 first to ask what papers to bring and whether it can cover a deposit for new service.
🤝 More places to ask
Salvation Army, DHS, tribal help and 211
The Salvation Army in Heavener, 106 Gretna, (918) 653-4815, is listed by Arkansas Oklahoma Gas as a LeFlore County place for help with utility bills. Call and ask what they can do this month.
Oklahoma Human Services runs LIHEAP energy help. Winter heating opens Tuesday, December 15, 2026, at OKDHSLive.org, by phone at (405) 522-5050, or at the LeFlore County DHS office, 511 S Harper St in Poteau, (918) 649-2300. Funds run out, so apply early. If your household includes a member of a tribe, you can apply through OKDHS or through a tribal program like the Choctaw Nation's LIHEAP, but not both for the same season.
Dial 211 any time to hear about other help near you, including churches that sometimes help with bills.
📄 Shrink the deposit
Ways to lower the deposit itself
In Poteau, electric service comes from OG&E, 1-800-522-0280, or Kiamichi Rural Electric, 1-800-888-2731, depending on where you live. Call the one for your address before you move and ask how much the deposit will be.
If you paid your last electric company on time, ask your old company for a letter of credit showing your payment record and ask the new company if it will lower or waive the deposit. It is also worth asking if the deposit can be split over a few bills.
Need a computer to apply online or print papers? The Patrick Lynch Public Library on McKenna Street has public computers and free Wi-Fi.
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Coming up around Poteau
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💡 Before you go
Tips before you call
Call first
Funds come and go, so ask what is available before you drive over.
Bring your papers
Photo ID, proof of income, your lease and the utility's deposit notice.
Apply in person
KiBois does not take mailed applications.
Ask for a letter
A good payment record from your last electric company can help.
Mark Dec. 15
LIHEAP winter heating opens that day and closes when money runs out.
❓ Good to know
Common questions
Are there any resources in Poteau that help pay an electric deposit?
Ask KiBois Community Action at 219 Kerr Avenue, (918) 647-3267, about its one-time emergency utility help, and the Salvation Army in Heavener at (918) 653-4815. Dial 211 for other help near you.
Who helps with utility bills in LeFlore County?
KiBois Community Action in Poteau, the Salvation Army in Heavener, and LIHEAP through Oklahoma Human Services, which opens winter heating help on December 15, 2026.
Does LIHEAP pay electric deposits?
LIHEAP helps with heating and cooling bills. For a deposit, ask KiBois or the Salvation Army, and ask the electric company about lowering it.
How can I get my electric deposit lowered?
Ask your last electric company for a letter of credit showing on-time payments, and ask the new company if it will lower or waive the deposit or split it over a few bills.
Who is the electric company in Poteau?
OG&E, 1-800-522-0280, or Kiamichi Rural Electric, 1-800-888-2731, depending on your address.
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