About $100 million of the $218 million in state and federal funds for the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program remains unused this heating season due in part to the milder than expected winter weather.

Community advocates and energy companies both expressed a concern that if funds are not used it may be difficult to get support, in particular for state funding in the program next year to prepare for cold weather.

A poll released this week by UGI, Columbia Gas and Equitable Gas found 74 percent of the public supported state funding for low-income energy assistance.

The proposed 2006-07 budget request did not include state funding for the program.

NewsClip: Energy Assistance Surplus Causes Worry

4/7/2006