PA Governor Approves $20 Million in Aid

Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell signed legislation on December 16 that provides up to $20 million in state funds to support LIHEAP. The money comes from a 1 mill diversion from Pennsylvania's Gross Receipts Tax, a levy on businesses.

The state has received applications from 300,000 families so far this year, 21,000 more than at this time in 2004. State money will help bring another 65,000 families into the program, the Governor’s office said. The new funding is part of the Governor’s “Stay Warm PA” initiative, through which the state has created a website where residents can get information about meeting their winter energy bills.

In a related matter, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission reported that 21,468 households in the state are entering the winter season without heat-related energy service. Among those were 3,795 households the commission said were using potentially unsafe heating sources, such as electric or kerosene space heaters - a 47 percent increase over last year. This is in part due to legislation passed last year that makes it easier for utilities to disconnect low-income customers and imposes higher reconnection fees. The Governor said he plans to talk with utilities about high reconnection fees and to make an announcement on that topic next week.

He has also urged utilities to increase enrollment in their ratepayer-funded Customer Assistance Programs and called upon other large energy companies to provide funding for those in need.

Source: state newspapers

Page Last Updated: December 19, 2005