Senate News Update
From Senator Jane Earll
December 5, 2007

Heating Emergency Assistance

When you live in the Great Lakes region, you know how to handle the winter. But that doesn't make it any less cold.

I hope you're staying warm this winter. With these temperatures, an inability to heat your home has to be considered a crisis. For that, there is special help available that goes beyond standard LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) boundaries. Please keep this information handy, or share it with someone who may be at risk of losing their heat this winter.

LIHEAP is a state-administered program that helps low-income individuals and families pay their home-heating utility bills. It also provides "crisis" grants if you have an emergency situation and are in jeopardy of losing your heat.

Up to $300 is available for emergency situations that include:

• Broken heating equipment or leaking lines that must be fixed or replaced
• Lack of fuel
• Termination of utility service
• Danger of being without fuel or of having utility service terminated

Income eligibility depends on the size of your household and is set at 150 percent of federal poverty income guidelines. For a single-person residence, the current income limit is $15,315. For couples, the limit is $20,535, with $25,755 for three persons and $30,975 for a family of four.

Assistance with home heating crisis situations is available 24 hours a day. The special LIHEAP phone number at the Eric County Assistance Office is 814-461-2002. 

In addition to crisis grants, cash grants of up to $300 are available to help families pay regular monthly heating bills. 

Pennsylvania residents can access information online about LIHEAP, other energy assistance programs and energy saving tips at www.staywarmpa.com. Online applications for LIHEAP are available at www.dpw.state.pa.us/ServicesPrograms/LIHEAP.

In addition, National Fuel Gas Company has special company programs for customers with extreme financial hardships.  There are special protections for customers who are age 62 or older, blind or disabled. If you or anyone you know fit this description, contact Nation Fuels with the specific information to help ensure continuous gas service through the winter season. 

You can supply contact information at www.natfuel.com, in the "For Home" section under "Special Needs," or call 814-871-8200 in the Erie area, 1-800-365-3234 in other locations.

Penelec, a First Energy company, also offers programs to assist the aged, persons with disabilities, and those who have suffered a financial setback.  Customers with electric heat can contact the company at 1-800-545-7741 to access the Customer Assistance program for a past due balance, and 1-800-282-6816 to connect with the Dollar Energy Fund (donations to help with a temporary inability to pay).  This information and links to the programs are also available at www.firstenergycorp.com.

Appliances break down all the time, and repairing them can sometimes be put off. But broken heating equipment, or termination of service, in the middle of a cold winter constitutes a crisis. Please keep this information handy for yourself, or someone you know. And please, stay warm this winter and think of spring.

As always, if you have questions on this or any state government matter, please do not hesitate to call my office at 814-453-2515.