LIHEAP FY 2009 Funding
$475,934,678 - regular block grant
$62,308,715 - emergency contingency funds
LIHEAP Income Eligibility Level 60% State Median Income
Crisis: 75% State Median Income after January 1, 2009
LIHEAP FY 2009 Benefit
Heating: $585 maximum for regular benefit, $800 maximum for oil, kerosene and propane
LIHEAP FY 2007 Households Served
871,512
LIHEAP Program Dates
Heating: November 3 - March 31
Crisis: November 3 - May 15 (Furnace repair or replacement starts October 1)
State/Local
A Home Energy Allowance is provided to public assistance recipients from state and local funds; New York law exempts the collection of utility sales tax from certain public assistance recipients; also provided from state and local funds is payment of utility arrears for public assistance clients.
Utility
Low-Income Rate Assistance
New York’s eight investor-owned utilities, and one municipal power authority, have low-income energy programs totaling about $20 million per year. The programs vary considerably by utility service territory and have varying eligibility guidelines. Most offer rate assistance and one or more other services such as arrearage forgiveness, weatherization, appliance repair and replacement and aggregation.
Consolidated Edison
212-780-6319
1-800-752-6633
Low-Income Plan
Retains the residential electric service customer charge at pre-1996 level for customers on Direct Vendor within Public Assistance. No fee for reconnection of service if turned off for non-payment for HEAP, Direct Vendor and SSI customers. Customers, age 62 or older, are exempt from paying a security deposit, unless service was turned off for nonpayment within the past six months. Recipients of Public Assistance or Supplemental Security Income are exempt from paying a security deposit.
Arrears Avoidance Program
Qualified low-income customers are eligible to receive a $200 grant toward their bills provided they maintain a deferred payment agreement with specified terms.
Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation
AffordAbility Payment Plan
Enables qualified customers to make an affordable monthly payment toward their Niagara Mohawk bill coupled with an arrearage forgiveness arrangement.
1-800-724-8888
Matching Incentive Payment Program
Grants of up to $600 will be available to eligible NYSEG residential customers facing service disconnection due to nonpayment. In addition, the program will match any additional payments customers make toward past-due amounts, up to $400. Families eligible for the program must be NYSEG electric and natural gas customers whose household income is less than 8 percent above the income guidelines for the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP). To Apply, contact your local Red Cross.
National Fuel Gas
1-800-365-3234 or 716-686-6123
Elderly, Blind or Disabled Payment Troubled Residential Assistance
This program assists payment-troubled customers who are at least 62 years of age, blind or disabled and includes a lower monthly gas rate, debt forgiveness, emergency heating equipment repair/replacement, and conservation measures.
www.natfuel.com/forhome/special_services.htm
NFG gives a 40% discount rate to LIHEAP eligible customers who are $300 or more in arrears and who maintain current bill payments.
Keyspan Energy
Residential Reduced Rate
Low-income customers may be eligible for a discount on basic service. Recipients of Public Assistance, SSI, or additional state payments may be eligible for security deposit and reconnect fee waivers.
718-403-2171
On Track
Provides financial assistance, education, and energy and financial management to low-income customers. Customers on the payment plan may receive credits on past due accounts.
718-403-2672
Low-Income Energy Efficiency
New York Energy $martSM
Assisted Home Performance with ENERGY STAR®
Reduces energy costs of low- and moderate-income households by providing affordable energy efficiency improvements to households that are not eligible for the federally funded Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP). Subsidies of up to 50% of the project cost, up to $5,000 per household are available for homeowners and renters. Contact a BPI certified contractor in your area to set up an appointment. www.getenergysmart.org/LowIncome/HomeOwners.aspx
Consolidated Edison
EmPower New YorkSM
Cost-effective electric reduction measures, particularly lighting and refrigerator replacements, as well as other cost-effective home performance strategies such as insulation, and health and safety measures. On-site energy use education provides customers with additional strategies for managing their energy costs. Eligibility is 60 percent of state median income. There is no cost to the cusomter. Referrals will be accepted from participating utilities, local Offices for the Aging and Weatherization Agencies. For additional information contact Honeywell International at 1-800-263-0960. www.getenergysmart.org/LowIncome/EmPower.aspx
Long Island Power Authority
Residential Energy Affordability Partnership (REAP)
Team members provide energy efficiency education and install energy-saving devices that may include: compact fluorescent light bulbs; refrigerators; water heater insulating jackets (for electric water heaters) and for customers with electric heat or central air conditioning: central air conditioning tune-ups and filter replacements; air and duct sealing and insulation; attic and wall insulation; programmable thermostats and energy-efficient water devices.
1-800-263-6786 www.lipower.org/residential/financial/reap.html
National Grid
EmPower New YorkSM
Cost-effective electric reduction measures, particularly lighting and refrigerator replacements, as well as other cost-effective home performance strategies such as insulation, and health and safety measures. On-site energy use education provides customers with additional strategies for managing their energy costs. Eligibility is 60 percent of state median income. There is no cost to the cusomter. Referrals will be accepted from participating utilities, local Offices for the Aging and Weatherization Agencies. For additional information contact Honeywell International at 1-800-263-0960. www.getenergysmart.org/LowIncome/EmPower.aspx
Niagra Mohawk
Affordability Program
As part of the affordable payment plan, participants may receive energy efficiency services that include: weatherization, refrigerator replacement, waterbed mattress replacement, installation of energy efficient fluorescent fixtures, electric hot water tank and/or clothes dryer fuel switch.
1-800-443-1837
Please note these charitable funds are last resort emergency funds with limited resources and limited times of operation.
Central Hudson Gas & Electric
The Good Neighbor Fund
For those suffering from a financial crisis that makes it difficult to pay their energy bills, Central Hudson’s Good Neighbor Fund provides a "last resort" grant toward Central Hudson bills for customers who have exhausted all other forms of assistance. It is funded by customer contributions and Central Hudson’s stockholders and is administered by The Salvation Army.
845-452-2700 or 800-527-2714
www.centralhudson.com/residential/payment_assistance.html
KeySpan
The Neighborhood Heating Fund
Administered by HeartShare Human Services of New York, funds are available on a first-come-first-served basis. Eligibility is based on New York State HEAP income guidelines.
718-643-4050
Project Warmth
Funded by KeySpan and customer contributions and administered by United Way of Long Island.
631-940-3700
Essex County
Last Stop Heating Assistance Program
Last Stop will help low- and moderate-income individuals who have trouble paying for heating but don't meet income guidelines for the federal Home Energy Assistance Program HEAP).
Applicants must first have applied for HEAP and been rejected. They should be within $250 of the HEAP maximum income and not have more than $2,500 in on-hand assets. The program will provide a one-time benefit of $500 to buy fuel, which will go directly to the fuel vendor. Applicants must heat with oil, natural gas or kerosene and have one-quarter of a tank or less remaining.
If they have electric heat, they must have received a shut-off notice from their utility.
The Adirondack Community Action Program in Elizabethtown will administer Last Sto.
518-873-3207
National Fuel Gas Company
Neighbor for Neighbor Heat
The fund provides grants that help people prevent disconnection of their utility service or pay current or past due energy bills or purchase home heating fuel of any kind. National Fuel customers can have a tax-deductible donation added to their monthly bill that NFG shareholders match dollar-for-dollar, up to $150,000.
For more information on how to apply, if you reside in the Buffalo area call 716-686-6123 or 1-800-365-3234 ouside of Buffalo.
www.natfuel.com/forhome/PaymentAssistance.htm
National Grid
Care and Share
The program serves households in which a member is 60 or older, or is disabled and receiving Supplemental Security Income or Social Security Disability, or is experiencing a medical emergency. Contact or visit the nearest American Red Cross chapter office.
www.nationalgridus.com/niagaramohawk/
New York State Electric and Gas
Project Share
Funded by the NYSEG Foundation, employees, retirees and customers. Helps eligible customers pay for energy emergencies such as fuel bills, repairs to heating equipment, home weatherization and water heater replacements. Grants of up to $200 are available to households where someone is over 60, or has a disability, or has a serious medical condition. To apply for a grant, contact your local chapter of the American Red Cross.
www.nyseg.com/YourAccount/payyourbill/serviceandassistance/projectshare.html
Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation
Care and Share
The program serves households in which a member is 60 or older, or is disabled and receiving Supplemental Security Income or Social Security Disability, or is experiencing a medical emergency. Contact or visit the nearest American Red Cross chapter office.
www.nationalgridus.com/niagaramohawk/
Orange and Rockland Utilities
Pike County Light & Power Co.
The Neighbor Fund
To qualify for assistance, applicants must have exhausted all governmental resources for financial assistance; provide supporting documentation of their emergency or crisis circumstances (e.g., medical bills, unemployment notification); and have never before received a Neighbor Fund grant. Contact the Salvation Army offices in Spring Valley (845-352-9577), Middletown (845-343-0821) or Port Jervis (845-856-3214) or one of The Neighbor Fund community outreach centers. www.oru.com/programsandservices/
Rochester Gas and Electric Corporation
Heating Fund
Administered by the American Red Cross, the fund assists people who are not eligible for government assistance programs, such as HEAP. Supported by contributions from RG&E customers, shareholders, and the community, the fund will provide grants year round for the 2008/2009 program year that starts October 27. For information on eligibility guidelines, contact the local chapter of the American Red Cross, 585-241-4474 in Rochester. www.rge.com/YourAccount/payyourbill/serviceandassistance/commheatingfund.html
RG&E also has a matching incentive payment program where RG&E will match customers' payments, up to $1,000. This new program only goes into effect when bills cost more than $600 and when customers can contribute some funds to pay off the bill.
