Households without heat have options
There are 24,000 Pennsylvania households that could be left out in the cold this winter. Some don’t have the necessary utility services, and others are using unsafe methods to heat their homes.
This is according to the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, which issued a news release Tuesday urging people from those households to contact utilities about programs to help them afford heating their homes. Whether through a federal program or working something out with their local gas or electric companies, there are several options available.
“We don’t want people to get into a situation where they need to use an alternative source,” said Sarah Perry, the senior communications and community relations specialist for Colombia Gas of Pennsylvania,
Alternative sources mean people sometimes resort to heating their homes with ovens, Perry said.
Colombia Gas offers assistance to customers struggling to make their payments. Customers at 150 percent below the poverty level, according to the company’s website, are eligible to be put into their Customer Assistance Program. CAP provides low-income customers with a more manageable payment plan.
Customers in need of assistance can call their customer service line, and the support team will help them set up new plans.
Similar services are shared with other utility companies, and calling them for help is often a better solution than ignoring a pile of bills. West Penn Power spokesman Todd Meyers said the FirstEnergy-owned company has “thousands” who are behind on their electric bills.
“Don’t stuff a bill away and ignore it,” Meyers said.
Much like with Colombia Gas, a customer struggling to make payments can call West Penn Power and potentially be set up with an Average Payment Plan. According to Meyers, this plan will average out payments and provide low-income customers with a consistent bill.
“At least you aren’t going to get surprised by a bill that changes month to month,” Meyers said.
Resources are available beyond what is provided by utility companies. Some might qualify for Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) grants. This federally funded program helps struggling households pay their heating bills during the winter. Colombia Gas and Peoples Natural Gas partner each year to make sure people are aware of the program, according to Erin O’Donnell of Peoples.
For those who find themselves in a situation where they may need help staying warm, placing a call to local utilities could be the first step to finding a solution that works for them.
“We can help you make it manageable, but we can’t if we don’t know about it,” Meyers said.