More Than $25 Million In LIHEAP Assistance Given To PECO Customers

PECO customers benefited from about 60,000 Federal grants representing more than $25 million in Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program funding to help manage energy costs during the 2008 – 2009 heating season.

 

This compares to 41,000 grants issued last year providing about $11 million in assistance. The company also provided about $70,000 in Matching Energy Assistance Fund (MEAF) grants, and still has more than $400,000 available to assist qualified customers.

 

“With the current economy, it is even more important that customers are aware and take advantage of the many programs available,” said Mary Ludford, PECO vice president of Customer Operations. “It is our responsibility to help our customers understand and manage their energy costs, and through these efforts the total number of customers facing service termination has not increased.”

 

In addition to increased outreach including advertising and direct mail, the company also changed its termination schedule – moving the largest amount of termination activity to the spring – to provide customers more time to prepare for the next winter heating season.

 

PECO manages the largest and most comprehensive Universal Services program in the state, providing needed assistance to customers who do not have the ability to pay for their energy needs. In fairness to customers who do pay for the energy service they receive, termination sometimes is the only way to ensure payment from customers who have the ability to pay but do not. Also, by terminating customers who have the ability to pay, the company can better target and assist those customers who truly are struggling.

 

LIHEAP is a federal program that provides cash and crisis grants to help low-income customers manage their energy costs. Other assistance programs include the Low-Income Usage Reduction Program, Customer Assistance Program, Customer Assistance and Referral Evaluation Services and MEAF.

 

The most important action a customer can take to avoid termination is to contact the company immediately when they become aware that they will not be able to make their scheduled payment. The most options are available for customers before an account becomes seriously or chronically past due. Customers should call us at 1-800-494-4000.