On-Bill Financing Allows You to “Pay As You Save”

May 26, 2017 – This 90-second video, produced by Appalachian Voices and Resource Main, shows how a utility company can help customers weatherize their homes, save money, and help cut back on energy consumption. The video was produced to introduce more consumers and electric utilities to “on-bill financing.”

Washington PUD Seeing Fewer than Expected Sign up for Low-Income Assistance

May 19, 2017 – The Public Utilities Division (PUD) in Jefferson County is seeing fewer people than expected enrolling in its low-income assistance program.

PUD Manager Jim Parker said that 509 households had enrolled in the program as of Friday. That’s out of an estimated 2,000 households that are eligible in Jefferson County, according to a study done by the PUD’s citizen advisory board.
“We expected more,” Parker said. “The weather is getting nicer so people aren’t thinking about it as much. I expected 700 by now.”

New York Workshops Offer Low-Income Assistance Opportunities

May 12, 2017 – Workshops will be held by SUEZ Water New York on May 15 and June 22 to discuss the company’s proposed programs to provide financial assistance for qualified customers in Rockland County, New York.

The New York Public Service Commission directed SUEZ Water New York to study the feasibility of developing programs to assist low-income customers after a rate case settlement earlier this year. These two workshops are part of that process.

New York HEAP Funding Will Provide Cooling Assistance to Vulnerable Households

May 5, 2017 – New York’s Governor Andrew Cuomo has announced that $3 million dollars will be available through the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) to provide cooling assistance to vulnerable New Yorker households.

Governor Cuomo says the summer heat can become an issue of life or death for some of the most vulnerable New Yorkers, and that this funding will help to ensure those vulnerable populations will remain safe and cool during the height of this season.

Colorado LIHEAP Ends April 30

April 28, 2017 – Low-income Coloradans that are struggling to pay their home energy bills can apply to the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) through this weekend, but after that they can seek help from the nonprofit Energy Outreach Colorado.

Wisconsin Winter Moratorium Ends in April

April 21, 2017 – Wisconsin utility companies are warning thousands of customers who are behind on their utility bills to make arrangements with their energy providers, because the statewide moratorium on disconnection ended this month. Utilities will now be able to disconnect customers behind on their bills. Xcel Energy spokesperson Liz Wolf Green said about 4,500 customers of the 260,000 in the utility’s Wisconsin service area are more than 30 days past due on their utility bills. She says these numbers are consistent with the number of delinquent accounts the utility had last year.

New Utility Partnership in CT Benefits Low-Income Residents

April 14, 2017 – A new partnership in Connecticut between Operation Fuel and Norwich Public Utilities (NPU) will benefit low-income customers who have trouble paying for their heating bills. NPU is the first utility in the state to serve as a fuel bank for Operation Fuel.

PA LIHEAP Application Deadline Extended

March 31, 2017 – Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf announced Tuesday that Pennsylvanians now have until April 7 to apply for financial assistance through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. The state’s heating and crisis assistance programs were originally set to end March 31, 2017, but due to unpredictable weather, the Wolf Administration has decided to extend the deadline.

PA PUC Votes to Launch “Home Energy Burden” Study

March 24, 2017 – Pennsylvania Public Utility Commissioners have voted to explore the sensitive issue of how much low-income customers should be required to pay for monthly energy costs. State policy established in 1992 sets the limit at 17 percent of the household’s income.

PUC Vice-Chairman Andrew G. Place and Commissioner David W. Sweet say that the steady volume of complaints from low-income customers who are unable to keep current on their discounted payment plans suggest that the state’s limit for its customer-assistance programs “may be too high.”

Texas Residents Pay it Forward Through Direct Energy Program

March 17, 2017 – With the close of the Lite-up Texas Program, low-income households across Texas are looking for other assistance to pay their electricity bills. Direct Energy’s Neighbor-to-Neighbor program offers support for over 30 agencies in the state of Texas. Since 2003, according to the company, customer donations and funds provided by Direct Energy have helped over 53,000 customers pay their electric bills.

Pages