SUNBURY — Folks who need financial assistance to pay their energy bills this winter can apply for grants, but some who qualified last year may not be eligible this year.
The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, known as LIHEAP, provides grants to help pay home heating bills. Because there is less money available this year, the maximum income limit has shifted down, from $44,443 last year to $33,075 this year for a family of four.
At the same time, the cost of heating oil is just over half of what it was at this time last year. In November 2008, fuel oil was over $4 per gallon, and today’s price is $2.40 per gallon, according to one area fuel dealer.
The federal government provided more than $330 million for the program last year, but this year, the Pennsylvania program received only $275 million. The state program is run by the state Department of Public Welfare.
A crisis grant component, for those who have run out of fuel or have a failed heating system, will be available starting Jan. 4.
In 2007-08, the LIHEAP program provided cash grants to 547,000 families, and an additional 200,000 families received crisis assistance, according to the welfare department.
Grants are based on income, family size, type of heating and region of the state.
Applications are available from county assistance offices, utility companies and community service agencies. The application also is available online at www.compass.state.pa.us or by calling (866) 857-7095.
Several public utilities also have assistance programs. These include customer assistance programs in which the utility determines what a family can pay versus the cost of energy use; customer assistance referral and evaluation, which helps customers with special needs such as a family emergency, unemployment or medical emergency; the low-income usage reduction program, which helps customers reduce usage by installing energy-saving features; and hardship funds for those who don’t qualify for other programs and still need assistance.
News
Aid offered with home energy bills
- News
-
-
Firefighter union may char pacts
LEWISBURG — Paid members of the William Cameron Engine Company have voted to unionize under the International Association of Fire Fighters, a move believed to stem from internal tension between paid and volunteer members of the department, according to various sources.
-
M-W rule on drug testing is area’s boldest
MIDDLEBURG — Midd-West is the only school district in the Central Susquehanna Valley that requires students interested in participating in extra-curricular activities to agree to submit to random drug testing.
-
New shelter exec gets busy
When Cathy Teisher stepped down as executive director of Haven Ministries, in March, Pamela Steffen stepped up.
-
Tax boost could bring $120G pad
The Lewisburg Area School District will seek a 3.2 percent real estate tax increase for the 2012-13 school year, the maximum allowed under the index, under a proposed budget now available for public comment.
-
Fire has burned beneath Centralia for 50 years
CENTRALIA — Fifty years ago on Sunday, a fire at the town dump ignited an exposed coal seam, setting off a chain of events that eventually led to the demolition of nearly every building in Centralia — a whole community of 1,400 simply gone.
-
'To Do': Montandon Community Days
MONTANDON - Montandon Community Days will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 26 along Railroad Street.
-
California’s Coronado named nation’s best beach
CORONADO, Calif. (AP) — Like a Hollywood star, Coronado’s 1.5 mile-long beach literally sparkles, thanks to the mineral mica glinting in its sand.
That’s one of the reasons why Coronado — flanked by the iconic hotel featured in Marilyn Monroe’s 1958 film “Some Like It Hot” — has been named the No. 1 beach in the United States in the 2012 survey by “Dr. Beach” professor Stephen P. Leatherman of Florida International University. -
Typical CEO made $9.6M last year, AP study finds
Profits at big U.S. companies broke records last year, and so did pay for CEOs.
-
Barnstorming cattle badger citizens for beer
BOXFORD, Mass. (AP) — Police say a roving group of cows crashed a small gathering in a Massachusetts town and bullied the guests for their beer.
-
'A Day in Towne' tradition draws crowds to Boalsburg
May 25--For the 148th year, Boalsburg will be the gathering place for regional families to remember all ranks of Armed Forces veterans.
-
Fired Pa. president gets more time to clear office
CALIFORNIA, Pa. (AP) — A judge has canceled a hearing to determine whether California University of Pennsylvania president Angelo Armenti can remove his personal property from his former office, because state officials have given him more time to do so.
- Weird crime of the week: Peddler in pickup scams bargain-hunting meat seeker
- More News Headlines
-
Firefighter union may char pacts
