Across the country, low-income customers struggle to pay their utility bills. Their incomes are simply too low to keep up with gas and electric bills. Fortunately, Massachusetts has one of the strongest panoplies of low-income programs and policies in the country to make sure low-income households can maintain critical utility services. These programs include protections against termination for the most vulnerable (elderly customers, households with someone seriously ill, or an infant under 12 months); a well-designed fuel assistance program that targets the highest payments to those with the lowest incomes and the most expensive heating sources; discounted utility rates for low-income customers; and Arrearage Management Programs (AMP programs or AMPs).