Income-eligible PPL Electric Utilities customers and other Pennsylvania households got more time to apply for help with energy bills in spring 2015, after the state extended the deadline for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).
The state Department of Human Services, which administers the federally funded program in Pennsylvania, moved the deadline from April 3 to May 1, 2015. Gov. Tom Wolf said the severity and length of the winter were factors in the decision.
What LIHEAP provides
LIHEAP offers cash grants to help households pay heating bills and crisis grants to help them through emergencies, such as a shutoff notice or running out of fuel.
“The extended deadline is great news,” said Tim Dahl, manager of regulatory programs and business services for PPL Electric Utilities. “It’s important for those who need this help to apply now because funding is limited.”
Who can qualify
Customers did not need an unpaid bill to qualify, and they did not need to be receiving public assistance.
Cash grants were based on household income, family size, type of heating fuel and region. Applicants had to provide proof of income and household size, plus a recent bill or a statement from their fuel dealer verifying their account and fuel type.
Income limits for the 2014-15 program year were:
- 1 person: $17,505
- 2 people: $23,595
- 3 people: $29,685
- 4 people: $35,775
- 5 people: $41,865
- 6 people: $47,955
- 7 people: $54,045
- 8 people: $60,135
- Each additional person: add $6,090
Those limits equaled 150 percent of the federal poverty guidelines at the time.
How to apply
Eligible customers could apply online through the state’s COMPASS website or download an application from PPL’s website under the bill-help section. Applications were also accepted in person at county assistance offices, and a statewide toll-free hotline, 1-866-857-7095, answered questions.
PPL customers enrolled in the utility’s OnTrack payment-assistance program could have a LIHEAP grant applied as an account credit. The company advised them not to make an OnTrack payment until they had used all the credits on their monthly bill.
The scale of the need
For the 2014-15 program year through early April, PPL had received about $5.6 million in LIHEAP grants for roughly 24,300 income-eligible customers.
The winter of 2014-15 was one of the coldest on record in much of Pennsylvania, with February 2015 ranking among the coldest months ever measured in parts of the state. High heating demand left many families struggling with large bills by early spring.
Other help
Beyond LIHEAP, Pennsylvania utilities offer customer assistance programs, hardship funds and budget billing plans that spread costs evenly across the year. Residents having trouble paying a bill are encouraged to contact their utility early, before a shutoff notice, to discuss options. Local nonprofits and churches in Lancaster County also run emergency assistance funds.
LIHEAP opens each fall, typically in November, and residents who may qualify should watch for the new season’s announcement and apply early, since funding is limited.
Other help with heating bills
Beyond LIHEAP, many utilities offer budget billing, payment plans and customer assistance programs for income-eligible households. Pennsylvania’s utility shutoff protections during winter months also give some customers extra time. Residents struggling with bills are encouraged to contact their utility directly and ask about every program available.
Tips to cut energy costs
- Seal drafts around doors and windows.
- Lower the thermostat a few degrees, especially at night.
- Change furnace filters regularly.
- Ask about free weatherization programs for eligible households.
Residents with questions about eligibility can contact the county assistance office for help with the application.
This article was originally published in April 2015.