Greensburg, Pennsylvania – Residential customers of FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE) subsidiaries Penelec, Penn Power, Met-Ed, and West Penn Power who are encountering financial difficulties are encouraged to call their utility immediately to enroll in payment plans or receive referrals to bill help programs. Now that nonpayment shut-offs have commenced, establishing an affordable payment arrangement or seeking assistance might help keep amounts manageable.
“The pandemic has exacerbated our Pennsylvania clients’ financial challenges,” said Scott Wyman, president of FirstEnergy’s Pennsylvania operations. “Customers who have lost income as a result of the crisis and are overdue on their power bills may be eligible for help that was previously unavailable.”
- 2-1-1 Helpline: This national resource and information hotline identifies locally available services that might help clients with utility bills and other issues. Call 2-1-1, text your ZIP code to 898211, or go to the 2-1-1 website for further information.
What does Pennsylvania’s hardship program entail?
The Pennsylvania Hardship Program of the Dollar Energy Fund provides one-time assistance funds that are deposited directly to a low-income household’s utility account. Funding is given out on a first-come, first-served basis, with different eligibility restrictions depending on the utility.
Company continues proactively notifying customers of payment plans, other tools to help manage energy bills.
CHARLOTTE, North Carolina With rising summer temperatures threatening to exacerbate financial hardship for those struggling to pay their energy bills, Duke Energy continues to support customers, connect them with available resources, and provide tools and programs to help manage electric bills, including flexible payment plans.
Customers who are past due on their utility bills will receive information about utility assistance from agencies in their communities by email and/or SMS.
The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is an income-based program that permits persons earning below specified income limits to receive federal energy bill assistance money. The qualifying income levels are determined by a variety of factors, including household income and the number of persons living in the home. To find out if you qualify for LIHEAP funds and how to apply, go to: Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
Emergency Rental Assistance Program (HOPE 2.0) funds are once again available to assist eligible clients in paying past-due rent and energy bills from March 13, 2020. Eligible applicants may get rent assistance for up to 12 months, including up to nine months of past-due rent. Up to a certain sum, the program also covers critical utilities.
Applicants can learn more about the HOPE Program at Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA)/HOPE 2.0 program or by calling (888) 9ASK-HOPE.
The Homeowner Assistance Fund is a new federal initiative for homeowners that face financial hardship as a result of COVID-19 after January 21, 2020. The funds will be used to help homeowners avoid mortgage defaults, foreclosures, and the loss of utility service. Homeowners having an annual income of less than or equal to 150 percent of the region median (average) income may qualify. More information can be found at the Homeowner Assistance Fund.
Customers of Duke Energy Progress and Duke Energy Carolinas can also visit our website to learn more about how community organizations can help. Small business clients will find a wealth of resources here, ranging from financial aid to invoicing and payment alternatives to professional advice on how to reduce their energy usage.
Customers can pay one predictable amount every month with Duke Energy’s Budget Billing and Equal Payment Plan choices, allowing them to better manage their budget. The amount is evaluated and updated on a regular basis. Learn more about Budget Billing and the Equal Payment Plan by clicking here.
Installment plans allow clients to pay a past-due bill over a longer period of time. Customers might ask for a few more days or have the past-due balance restructured into a monthly payment plan. Customers should call Duke Energy to learn about their options:
Summertime sees an increase in energy use because air conditioning is one of the most energy-intensive appliances in your home. When temperatures are at their peak, customers can easily track and modify their usage.
- Customers can get daily and hourly consumption statistics from smart meters, which can help them better understand their energy usage and take steps to conserve energy and money. Here’s a video of it.
- Customers with smart meters also get usage notifications through email and/or text midway through their billing cycle, far before their bill arrives, with their current consumption number and an estimate of what their final monthly payment would be.
- Customers can also establish budget alerts to receive notifications when their bill reaches a certain dollar level, allowing them to alter their consumption and save money.
Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK) is a Fortune 150 corporation based in Charlotte, North Carolina. It is one of the major energy holding companies in the United States. Its electric utilities have a combined capacity of 51,000 megawatts and serve 7.9 million people in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky. In North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio, and Kentucky, its natural gas unit serves 1.6 million consumers. The corporation has a workforce of 27,500 individuals.
Duke Energy is pursuing an aggressive clean energy strategy to help its customers and communities achieve a smarter energy future, with targets of at least a 50% decrease in carbon emissions by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2050. The corporation is a leading provider of renewable energy in the United States, with plans to own or acquire 16,000 megawatts of renewable energy capacity by 2025. In addition, the business is investing in large electric grid upgrades and increased battery storage, as well as investigating zero-emission power generation technologies such as hydrogen and advanced nuclear.
When may utilities in Pennsylvania be turned off?
Termination in the Winter If you fail to be a responsible utility customer and your household’s income exceeds 250 percent of the federal poverty level (for customers of the Philadelphia Water Department), your utility service can be shut off without the PUC’s prior approval during the winter months (December 1 through March 31).
How can I know if I’m eligible for financial assistance in Pennsylvania?
To be eligible for cash assistance, your monthly income must be less than the cash grant amount: $205 for a single person, $316 for a couple, and $403 for a family of three. Pennsylvania likewise has a savings limit of $250 for one person and $1,000 for two or more people.
What is Pennsylvania’s CAP program?
Customer Assistance Programs (CAPs) are designed to assist low-income residential customers in keeping their utilities connected. CAPs can help you save money on your monthly power bill by reducing or eliminating the amount you owe. The organization collaborates with you to figure out how much you can afford based on your household income.
What exactly is Liheap?
Through efforts that assist families with energy bills, the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps keep families safe and healthy. We help people manage the costs of home energy bills, energy crises, weatherization, and energy-related small home repairs with federal funds.
LIHEAP can assist you in staying warm in the winter and cool in the summer by providing programs that lower the risk of health and safety issues associated with inefficient heating and cooling.
What is the meaning of a PA open credit on a gas bill?
Residential customers would receive a one-time $100 credit and annual rate reductions of $53 under the scheme. Customers in the commercial sector would receive a one-time credit of $250 and an average annual savings of $106. Customers in the industrial sector are also eligible for a one-time bill credit as well as rate reductions.
How much does Liheap pay in terms of pay-as-you-go?
This implies that families will experience a rise in the minimum LIHEAP cash grant from $200 to $500, as well as an increase in the maximum LIHEAP cash grant from $1,000 to $1,500.
