Image

12:44 AM / Sunday February 16, 2025

17 Dec 2011

PECO customers must act now to receive LIHEAP Grants this season

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
December 17, 2011 Category: Week In Review Posted by:

PECO customers must act now to take advantage of limited funding available this heating season for Pennsylvania through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).

 

LIHEAP grants are now available, and because of expected Federal funding cuts, significantly less money could be available to help low-and fixed-income customers pay their bills. Currently, $133 million is available to help Pennsylvania customers compared to $286 million last season.

 

LIHEAP is a Federal program that provides assistance to individuals who are having trouble paying their electric, natural gas or other energy bills. Homeowners, renters, and subsidized housing tenants may be eligible. Last year, LIHEAP helped about 42,000 PECO customers with more than 111,000 grants totaling $23.4 million in assistance.

 

“With the significant reduction in funding to support LIHEAP this year, it is essential our customers submit their applications now, before funding runs out,” said Mark Alden, vice president of Customer Operations for PECO. “We are reaching out to customers through community forums, proactive calls, direct mail and advertising to ensure eligible customers know help is available.”

 

The LIHEAP program provides cash grants, up to $1,000 per customer, through a direct payment to a vendor, such as a utility like PECO. LIHEAP also has money allocated for emergencies including payments to reinstate service that has been shut off for non-payment, fuel payments, and repairing leaking pipes and broken furnaces. The maximum grant funding for emergencies like these is $300 per customer.

 

Grants are based on household size and income, type of fuel used and county of residence – and a family of four with an annual household income of $33,525 can qualify for help.

 

To be eligible, annual household income cannot exceed 150 percent of the Federal poverty income guidelines, or:

 

  • $16,335 – One person household
  • $22,065 – Two person household
  • $27,795 – Three person household
  • $33,525 – Four person household
  • $39,255 – Five person household

 

For larger households, the guidelines increase by $5,730 for each additional person.

 

For more information, help in filling out the application, or questions, customers can call 1-800-34 HELP4 or visit www.peco.com/help.

 

PECO manages the largest and most comprehensive Universal Services program in the state. In addition to LIHEAP, PECO has many other programs to help customers manage their energy costs and save money. Other assistance programs include:

 

  • The Customer Assistance Program (CAP): A discounted rate for low-income customers.
  • The Matching Energy Assistance Fund (MEAF): A program funded by voluntary contributions of citizens and matched dollar for dollar by PECO for up to $1000 in total assistance for those who qualify.
  • Low Income Usage Reduction Program (LIURP): A program that provides year round conservation and weatherization assistance for qualified households.
  • Customer Assistance and Referral Evaluation Services (CARES): A referral and information service designed to assist customers who have temporary personal or financial hardships that prevent the payment of their utility bill.

 

PECO customers who are not eligible for low-and fixed-income assistance but are having trouble managing their energy costs should also consider taking advantage of other programs including budget billing. Budget billing makes short-term fluctuation in monthly bills much easier to handle by dividing annual energy costs evenly throughout the year.

 

All customers also can save money on their monthly energy bills by using energy as efficiently as possible. Find ways to save energy and money and to take the PECO Smart Home e-Audit, visit www.PECO.com/SmartIdeas.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Leave a Comment

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
November 4, 2011 Category: Color Of Money Posted by:

 

 

LIHEAP grants are now available, and because of expected Federal funding cuts, significantly less money could be available to help low-and fixed-income customers pay their bills. Currently, $133 million is available to help Pennsylvania customers compared to $286 million last season.

 

LIHEAP is a Federal program that provides assistance to individuals who are having trouble paying their electric, natural gas or other energy bills. Homeowners, renters, and subsidized housing tenants may be eligible. Last year, LIHEAP helped about 42,000 PECO customers with more than 111,000 grants totaling $23.4 million in assistance.

 

“With the significant reduction in funding to support LIHEAP this year, it is essential our customers submit their applications now, before funding runs out,” said Mark Alden, vice president of Customer Operations for PECO. “We are reaching out to customers through community forums, proactive calls, direct mail and advertising to ensure eligible customers know help is available.”

 

The LIHEAP program provides cash grants, up to $1,000 per customer, through a direct payment to a vendor, such as a utility like PECO. LIHEAP also has money allocated for emergencies including payments to reinstate service that has been shut off for non-payment, fuel payments, and repairing leaking pipes and broken furnaces. The maximum grant funding for emergencies like these is $300 per customer.

 

Grants are based on household size and income, type of fuel used and county of residence – and a family of four with an annual household income of $33,525 can qualify for help. To be eligible, annual household income cannot exceed 150 percent of the Federal poverty income guidelines, or:

 

  • 16,335 – One person household
  • $22,065 – Two person household
  • $27,795 – Three person household
  • $33,525 – Four person household
  • $39,255 – Five person household

 

For larger households, the guidelines increase by $5,730 for each additional person.

 

For more information, help in filling out the application, or questions, customers can call 1-800-34 HELP4 or visit www.peco.com/help.

 

PECO manages the largest and most comprehensive Universal Services program in the state. In addition to LIHEAP, PECO has many other programs to help customers manage their energy costs and save money. Other assistance programs include:

 

  • The Customer Assistance Program (CAP): A discounted rate for low-income customers.
  • The Matching Energy Assistance Fund (MEAF): A program funded by voluntary contributions of citizens and matched dollar for dollar by PECO for up to $1000 in total assistance for those who qualify.
  • Low Income Usage Reduction Program (LIURP): A program that provides year round conservation and weatherization assistance for qualified households.
  • Customer Assistance and Referral Evaluation Services (CARES): A referral and information service designed to assist customers who have temporary personal or financial hardships that prevent the payment of their utility bill.

 

PECO customers who are not eligible for low-and fixed-income assistance but are having trouble managing their energy costs should also consider taking advantage of other programs including budget billing. Budget billing makes short-term fluctuation in monthly bills much easier to handle by dividing annual energy costs evenly throughout the year.

 

All customers also can save money on their monthly energy bills by using energy as efficiently as possible. Find ways to save energy and money and to take the PECO Smart Home e-Audit, visit www.PECO.com/SmartIdeas.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Leave a Comment

Recent News

Color Of Money

Pennsylvania governor seeks more money for schools and transit, but relies heavily on surplus cash

February 10, 2025

Share Tweet Email Governor Josh Shapiro presents his 2025-26 budget proposal to the Pa. General Assembly, as...

Seniors

How Type 2 inflammation contributes to asthma, COPD, and allergic conditions

February 3, 2025

Share Tweet Email BPT Do you live with persistent, moderate-to-severe asthma, COPD, allergies, eczema or hives? Inflammation...

SUNrise

cj speaks…Celebrating in forgiveness for Black History Month

February 10, 2025

Share Tweet Email By cj “This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and...

Week In Review

Black History Month explained: Its origins, celebrations and myths

February 10, 2025

Share Tweet Email This undated photo provided by the Association for the Study of African American Life...

Commentary

Commentary: The Retirement Party

January 19, 2025

Share Tweet Email President Joe Biden speaks about student loan debt at Madison College, April 8, 2024,...

Health

What you need to know about glaucoma

February 10, 2025

Share Tweet Email FAMILY FEATURES More than 4.2 million Americans live with glaucoma, a leading cause of...

The Philadelphia Sunday Sun Staff