Home heating season is almost here, and UGI continues to urge eligible natural gas and electric customers to apply for federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funds to help cover costs this winter.
Applications will be accepted by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services beginning Nov. 4, 2024, through April 4, 2025.
“UGI is committed to delivering safe and reliable energy services, while also working to make it affordable,” says Dan Adamo, UGI vice president of Customer Relations.
“LIHEAP as well as UGI’s income eligible customer assistance programs bring real savings to thousands of our customers each year.”
Last winter, nearly 26,000 UGI customers received LIHEAP grants totaling more than $10 million.
LIHEAP grants help customers with limited or fixed incomes pay their heating bills, repair or replace a heater, avoid utility service shut off, and assist in restoring a terminated service. LIHEAP grants do not need to be repaid.
Customers interested in applying for LIHEAP should contact UGI. Company representatives will provide customers with information on the application process and eligibility requirements and can also help in completing and submitting the required forms.
LIHEAP funds are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis to qualifying customers. UGI urges customers to submit a LIHEAP application as soon as possible.
For more information on LIHEAP, customers can call UGI at 1-800-UGI-WARM (1-800-844-9276) or visit www.ugi.com/liheap .
To qualify for LIHEAP funds, a customer must provide proof of income, a recent heating bill, and name, birth date and Social Security number for each household member.
LIHEAP applicants now have the option of sharing certain application information directly with public utilities, to help with the enrollment process and to help determine eligibility in additional UGI-sponsored programs. To opt in, just look for the checkbox on the application.
UGI also offers company-sponsored assistance programs, including:
UGI’s Customer Assistance Program (CAP) offers qualifying income-eligible customers a more manageable monthly energy bill. UGI provides CAP participants with a monthly payment amount based on gross income, household size and energy usage. When CAP bills are paid on or before the due date, the difference between the amount billed and the actual amount used may be forgiven.
The Low-Income Usage Reduction Program, or Weatherization, offers free installation of energy conservation measures to help make energy bills more affordable. Possible energy saving measures include ceiling insulation; floor, duct, and hot water pipe insulation; caulking and weather-stripping, gas heater repairs and water flow restrictors.
The Operation Share Energy Fund provides energy assistance grants to qualifying customers who have trouble paying their heating bills. This community-based program is funded by a corporate donation by UGI as well as voluntary donations from UGI employees, UGI customers and concerned citizens. UGI works with dozens of community agencies to administer Operation Share funds.
C.A.R.E.S. (Customer Assistance and Referral Evaluation Service) can provide referrals to other helpful programs in the community. These programs can include LIHEAP, budget counseling, and State Weatherization or Office of Aging programs.
UGI can also assist eligible customers by setting up a Payment Plan if a bill is higher than expected and there is difficulty paying the entire amount.
A Budget Billing Plan estimates your annual energy usage and spreads out that amount evenly over the budget billing period to calculate the monthly amount a customer pays. UGI reviews each customer’s Budget Billing Plan every three months to determine actual energy usage and make any necessary adjustments to monthly payments.
UGI encourages customers who may qualify for any of these programs to contact the company.
UGI Utilities, Inc. is a natural gas and electric utility company that serves more than 740,000 customers. Additional information about UGI Utilities, Inc. is available at www.ugi.com.