Thursday, December 27, 2018

PUC Reports 18,500 Households Starting Winter Without Heat In PA, Down 4% From Last Year

On December 27, the Public Utility Commission released the results of its annual Cold Weather Survey showed more than 18,500 households across the state which had utility service terminated during the calendar year are entering the winter season without heat-related utility service or using unsafe heating sources.  
That figure is approximately 4 percent lower than last year (754 fewer households starting the winter without heat), and 16 percent lower (3,484 fewer households) than the winter of 2016-- with improvements noted by more than half of the state’s major electric and natural gas distribution companies.
The annual Cold Weather Survey, along with the mid-winter resurvey, serves as a “snapshot” to help gauge utility and PUC outreach about heating assistance programs. The survey tracks the number of households whose heat-related utility service was terminated during the year, and who remain without service at the start of the winter.
As a result of the direct contact that occurs between utilities and consumers during the survey process, 38,335 households had their heat-related utility service reconnected with a payment arrangement in 2018.
More extensive data about utility service--including terminations; reconnections; the number of low-income and payment-troubled customers; and the size and scope of various customer assistance programs-- is available in the PUC’s annual Universal Service Report.
The 2018 Cold Weather Survey showed the following (as of Dec. 1):
-- 5,653 residences are without safe electric heating, including 5,454 households without electric service and 199 households that are heating with potentially unsafe heating sources.
-- 12,888 residences are without safe natural gas heating, including 12,027 households without natural gas service and 861 households that are heating with potentially unsafe heating sources.
-- 10,342 residences where electric service was terminated and 3,564 residences where natural gas service was terminated now appear to be vacant.
Note: Some households may be without both electric and natural gas service, resulting in a double-counting of some households.
The PUC remains concerned about the thousands of households who struggle to stay warm and safe during the winter.
Residents experiencing financial difficulties are encouraged to contact their utilities and/or the PUC for information about numerous programs available to help them restore and maintain their utility service.
“With the coldest months of the year still ahead, it remains critically important for consumers without heat-related utility service to learn about the options available to allow them to reconnect service,” said PUC Chairman Gladys M. Brown. “We urge those residents to take advantage of the numerous programs available to help them restore utility service in order to stay connected, warm and safe this winter.”
According to the PUC’s most recent Universal Service Report, those assistance programs help support more than 302,000 electric customers and over 150,000 natural gas customers and are valued at more than $385 million per year.
As part of the annual “Prepare Now” campaign, the Commission continues its appeal to utilities to increase their efforts to educate consumers about resources that may be available, such as grants under the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)-- which is administered by the Department of Human Services– with information available through local County Assistance Offices or via the LIHEAP hotline at 1-866-857-7095.
The PUC emphasizes that consumers without utility service should understand their rights and responsibilities, including additional options that may be available for those who are seriously ill or are facing other unique circumstances, such as a protection from abuse order.
Consumers should call their utility first to make arrangements to pay their bill. If they are unable to reach an agreement with the utility, the PUC may be able to provide assistance. The PUC can be reached toll-free at 1-800-692-7380.
About The Survey
Every year, the state’s electric and natural gas distribution companies under the PUC’s jurisdiction are required to survey residential properties where service has been terminated and has not been reconnected during this calendar year.
Every December, the PUC releases the survey results.
As part of the survey, the utility or its representative makes four attempts to contact consumers who are known to be without heat-related utility service. The attempts may include telephone calls, letters and personal visits to the residence and are done on different days of the week and at different times of the day.
If the first three contacts are unsuccessful, the PUC requests that the fourth attempt be an in-person visit to the residence.
Homes using potentially unsafe heating sources are reported separately in the survey because of additional risks in those situations.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, potentially unsafe sources of heat include kerosene heaters, kitchen stoves or ovens, electric space heaters, fireplaces and connecting extension cords to neighbors’ homes.
Click Here for a copy of the Cold Weather Survey results.

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