PGW Low-income Customers Can Now Apply For Up To $1,500 In Heating Assistance
Posted on: Oct 18, 2021LIHEAP grant applications open today; the money is free and does not have to be repaid
PHILADELPHIA (October 18, 2021) – Philadelphia Gas Works’ (PGW) low-income customers who need help with their natural gas bills can now apply for up to $1,500 in free money through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). The application period for LIHEAP begins Monday, October 18. The average annual residential heating bill is $1,100; a LIHEAP grant could significantly impact heating costs for PGW customers.
LIHEAP grants are based on household size and income, available to renters and homeowners, and do not have to be repaid. PGW customers can print a LIHEAP application at pgworks.com/liheap. Customers without utility service or who have received a 10-day shut-off notice can apply for both Crisis Assistance and LIHEAP together. Crisis Assistance is an additional federal grant of up to $1,200 that is awarded to income-eligible customers.
Nearly one-third of Philadelphia households are low-income. As many as 138,000 PGW customers could qualify for LIHEAP. While over 82,000 low-income PGW customers received LIHEAP assistance last year (2020-2021), a significant number of eligible customers did not apply and benefit from free utility assistance.
“For those facing economic hardships, there is more assistance than ever through LIHEAP. PGW encourages eligible customers to apply now since funding is first-come-first-served,” said Denise Adamucci, Vice President of Regulatory Compliance and Customer Programs at PGW. “Unfortunately, each year, a significant number of eligible households do not apply for LIHEAP and do not receive the financial relief they need. With LIHEAP and Crisis, as well as PGW’s payment assistance programs, customers have many options to manage their natural gas bills and maintain service as we head into the colder months.”
LIHEAP applicants must have a household income at or below 150 percent of the Federal Poverty Level to meet the eligibility requirements. Eligibility guidelines are available at pgworks.com/liheap. The grant program is expected to close on May 6, 2022.
LIHEAP grants for PGW customers are applied directly to the “Please Pay” amount of their bill. Customers enrolled in PGW’s Customer Responsibility Program (CRP) benefit from both their regular CRP discount and the additional LIHEAP grant when paying their bills.
After receiving LIHEAP or Crisis grants, customers needing further assistance may apply for the Utility Emergency Services Fund (UESF), a privately funded grant. UESF funding, which PGW matches up to a maximum of $1,500, is available to income-eligible customers who are in danger of service termination or whose service was terminated. The grant is designed to pay off the balance of a customer’s unpaid utility bill and bring it to zero.
For more information on LIHEAP, Crisis Assistance, and additional PGW payment assistance programs, visit pgworks.com/residential/customer-care/payment-assistance.
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