GA PSC Approves Additional Relief

Low-income natural gas customers will receive more than $8 million in additional assistance to help pay this winter’s high natural gas bills as a result action March 21 by the Georgia Public Service Commission.

According to the Commission order, $5.1 million will go to low- income senior citizens who are now receiving the Atlanta Gas Light Company (AGLC) senior citizen discount. Each qualified senior citizen will receive a $150 bill credit. As of March 1, 2006 approximately 34,000 households received the AGLC senior discount.

The Commission also approved an additional $3 million to assist other low-income natural gas customers who don’t receive the senior credit. These funds will be distributed by the Department of Human Resources, the LIHEAP grantee, to qualified low- income recipients who meet the federal poverty guidelines.

The money comes from the state’s Universal Service Fund. The fund was set up under the 1997 law that deregulated natural gas service and is supported primarily by large industrial customers. The Commission released $6 million from the fund for low- income customers on October 4, 2005.

Source: GA PSC

Page Last Updated: March 21, 2006