Gov. Rendell this week announced a Stay Warm PA program designed to make sure Pennsylvania’s most vulnerable citizens are warm and protected as cold weather approaches and homeowner energy bills are expected to jump at least 30 percent.

The Governor’s plan includes:

· Seeking additional federal LIHEAP money;

· Authorizing up to $18 million in state resources, including $15 million for LIHEAP and $3 million for HEMAP;

· Asking energy companies to help low-income consumers meet their winter bills;

· Creating a partnership with home supply retailers to help seniors and others winterize;

· Marshaling families and friends to help take care of their homes to help lower winter heating bills;

· Convening a statewide Stay Warm PA summit with volunteers and religious organizations to protect the neediest citizens;

· Enabling the Energy Star sales tax holiday and extending it to include weatherization materials;

· Reducing the commonwealth’s energy use;

· Ensuring that poor families have a second chance to make energy payments before utilities are turned off; and

· Removing hurdles for poor families seeking to reconnect fuel service.

The Governor announced that Equitable Energy Corp. has pledged up to $9 million toward low-income energy assistance for customers in its service market. Exelon/PECO has pledged to increase its assistance by $5.9 million this year. Additionally, Sunoco is filling up fuel tanks for a limited number of families who qualify for LIHEAP. Gov. Rendell called on other companies to join in providing such assistance and support.

The Governor also has called a statewide Stay Warm PA summit on November 1, to bring together the leadership of the United Way, Red Cross, Salvation Army, AFL-CIO, the Pennsylvania Council of Churches as well as Jewish and Muslim organizations to mobilize an army of volunteers to weatherize homes, assist the frail and elderly, establish warm rooms in homes and community centers and collectively address the winter heating crisis.

At Gov. Rendell’s request, Lowe’s, one of the world’s largest home improvement retailers with some 60 stores across Pennsylvania, has agreed to hold weatherization workshops at least on a weekly basis at senior centers and other locations.

The Fortune 50 company also is providing plastic sheeting, caulking, door guards and other weatherization materials at no cost to volunteer groups helping to winterize homes of seniors and needy families.

The Governor also asked the Public Utility Commission to set up regulatory actions, where possible, to improve the efficiency of the state’s utilities and their fairness and reasonableness in terminating consumers and in reconnecting service.

For more information and energy saving tips, visit the Keep Warm PA website.

NewsClips: Rendell Unveils Plan to Help Pennsylvanians Keep Warm

Rendell Urges State Aid for Poor on Heating Bills

State to Seek Winter Help for Poor

Weatherization Tips Offered as Part of Stay Warm PA

10/21/2005