At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) issued a blanket ban on utility shutoffs, protecting customers from losing their utility service because of unpaid bills. In October 2020, the PUC changed the ban to allow shutoffs, BUT low-income customers (below 300% of the Federal Poverty Level, or FPL) remain…
The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) provides one-time grants to help families afford their heating costs. Within the past year, LIHEAP has helped more than 310,000 Pennsylvanians pay their heating bills, restore their heating service, or prevent their heating service from being shut off. LIHEAP has helped families with seniors, young children, or people…
Internet access is extremely important, especially during a pandemic. But many families can’t afford home internet and don’t know how to get help. We have a long way to go before everyone who needs internet access can get it. But here are some options that are available now in Philadelphia and across the country: Free…
People are at risk of getting their utilities shut off, even though we are in the middle of a pandemic and need to “shelter in place.” Currently, utilities are not allowed to shut people off, but that ends on June 4th. This week CLS and the Pennsylvania Utility Law Project submitted a letter to Governor…
PGW wants to increase customer rates by $70 million per year. They say the average household’s gas bill would go up by 11.2%, but the actual increase could be much higher. Their proposal would increase the fixed monthly charge from $13.75 to $19.25, a 40% increase, and that’s without using any gas! Gas bills are…
Starting Monday, May 18th, Pennsylvania will accept applications for its new LIHEAP Recovery Crisis Program. Eligible households could receive grants of up to $800 sent directly to their utility or fuel vendor. Grants are available to pay for heating or electric bills. You can also get help to fix broken heaters or other energy equipment.…
Utilities companies in Philadelphia are not currently shutting off service during the COVID-19 crisis! If you are already without utility service during the COVID-19 pandemic, you may be able to have your utilities restored. Electricity – PECO PECO adopted a policy of restoring customers whose service is currently disconnected to ensure access to electric service…
People of color are disproportionately burdened by unaffordable utility service. Nationally, Black and Latinx households spend a greater percentage of their income on energy costs than white households. The percentage of household income spent on energy costs is known as an energy burden. For years, Pennsylvania permitted unaffordable energy burdens of up to 17% of…
For years, Philadelphia operated an inefficient assistance program for low-income water customers, Philadelphia’s most economically vulnerable households. The program helped only 7,000 of more than 60,000 low-income Philadelphia households per year. Customers in that program received a small grant and fixed bill amounts for 12 months. If you were enrolled in that program and your…
Each year, residential Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW) and PECO customers are protected from utility shut offs by the winter moratorium. In Pennsylvania, it is illegal for utility companies to shut off services for low-income customers because of non-payment between December 1 and March 31. To be protected
