This could be a long, cold winter for low-income households that struggle to pay their utility bills.
Far less money is expected to be available through the government's LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) this year.
Last winter poor households could have as much as $400 in LIHEAP funds applied toward their utility bills.
But at the time, federal stimulus program dollars had pushed the total amount of Kentucky LIHEAP funds to $58 million. For the current year, no stimulus money is available; the Obama administration budgeted just $26.7 million for the state's program this year, though Congress could still revise that number.
While the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services hasn't released a funding amount this year, some observers are suggesting that funding could be cut to $250 per household.
Low-income customers "are banking on" the availability of $400 in LIHEAP assistance, said Renee Beasley Jones, the spokeswoman for the Kenergy Corp. rural electric co-op.
"We need to let people know it won't be there," she said.
"We anticipate hearing from a lot of customers after the first of the year" when some lower-income households begin receiving disconnect notices for non-payment of high utility bills, according to Andrew Melnykovych, spokesman for the Kentucky Public Service Commission.
The agency's consumer services divisions works with customers to resolve complaints or problems with their utility company.
"A lot will be determined by what winter does," Melnykovych said. "A warm start of winter will (minimize) the matter considerably."
But a cold December will prove challenging for poor households.
"Last winter in particular in eastern Kentucky, it was unusually harsh early on in December. ... We were just inundated by calls from people seeking assistance," he said.
State and utility officials are urging low-income households to take steps now to brace for winter such as setting up a budget billing plan at their utility company and winterizing their homes to reduce energy use.
So state and utility officials are low-income households to take steps now such as setting up a budget billing plan at their utility company and winterizing their homes to reduce energy use.
"Now's the time to do that," Melnykovych said.
"Weatherization can make a tremendous difference," he said. "You can put heavy plastic sheeting over windows with duct tape ... and (apply) caulking around doors and windows" to reduce heat loss from your home.
"Most utilities provide, at low cost or no cost, a weatherization kit" with such materials, Melnykovych said.
Budget billing plans can reduce high winter bills by averaging out utility costs over the whole year. Henderson city electric customers, for instance, can sign up for budget payments anytime of the year; their monthly bills will be based on the average of the previous 12 months of bills plus an inflationary factor.
Customers who find themselves unable to pay a whole bill should contact their utility as soon as possible to make special arrangements for partial payments rather than waiting until a technician comes to shut off their utilities, the Kenergy Corp. rural electric co-op advised.
By that time, it's too late to stop the disconnection, and getting power reconnected will just cost extra money, spokeswoman Jones said.
"If they would give us a call (or visit an their office) and tell us they're having difficulty, that's the easiest way to do it," she said.
"The utilities in general are very good about working with customers directly," Melnykovych said.
Struggling households might also be able to secure help from the statewide WinterCare Energy Fund, which is funded by voluntary contributions when other customers pay their bills, or by similar programs at various utility companies.
For more information about LIHEAP, WinterCare or weatherization programs, contact the Audubon Area Community Services agency at:
- Henderson County: 324 First St. in Henderson or 826-6071.
- Union County: 227 Richards Lane in Morganfield or 389-3742.
- Webster County: 64 N. College St. in Dixon or 639-5635.
Far less money is expected to be available through the government's LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) this year.
Last winter poor households could have as much as $400 in LIHEAP funds applied toward their utility bills.
But at the time, federal stimulus program dollars had pushed the total amount of Kentucky LIHEAP funds to $58 million. For the current year, no stimulus money is available; the Obama administration budgeted just $26.7 million for the state's program this year, though Congress could still revise that number.
While the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services hasn't released a funding amount this year, some observers are suggesting that funding could be cut to $250 per household.
Low-income customers "are banking on" the availability of $400 in LIHEAP assistance, said Renee Beasley Jones, the spokeswoman for the Kenergy Corp. rural electric co-op.
"We need to let people know it won't be there," she said.
"We anticipate hearing from a lot of customers after the first of the year" when some lower-income households begin receiving disconnect notices for non-payment of high utility bills, according to Andrew Melnykovych, spokesman for the Kentucky Public Service Commission.
The agency's consumer services divisions works with customers to resolve complaints or problems with their utility company.
"A lot will be determined by what winter does," Melnykovych said. "A warm start of winter will (minimize) the matter considerably."
But a cold December will prove challenging for poor households.
"Last winter in particular in eastern Kentucky, it was unusually harsh early on in December. ... We were just inundated by calls from people seeking assistance," he said.
State and utility officials are urging low-income households to take steps now to brace for winter such as setting up a budget billing plan at their utility company and winterizing their homes to reduce energy use.
So state and utility officials are low-income households to take steps now such as setting up a budget billing plan at their utility company and winterizing their homes to reduce energy use.
"Now's the time to do that," Melnykovych said.
"Weatherization can make a tremendous difference," he said. "You can put heavy plastic sheeting over windows with duct tape ... and (apply) caulking around doors and windows" to reduce heat loss from your home.
"Most utilities provide, at low cost or no cost, a weatherization kit" with such materials, Melnykovych said.
Budget billing plans can reduce high winter bills by averaging out utility costs over the whole year. Henderson city electric customers, for instance, can sign up for budget payments anytime of the year; their monthly bills will be based on the average of the previous 12 months of bills plus an inflationary factor.
Customers who find themselves unable to pay a whole bill should contact their utility as soon as possible to make special arrangements for partial payments rather than waiting until a technician comes to shut off their utilities, the Kenergy Corp. rural electric co-op advised.
By that time, it's too late to stop the disconnection, and getting power reconnected will just cost extra money, spokeswoman Jones said.
"If they would give us a call (or visit an their office) and tell us they're having difficulty, that's the easiest way to do it," she said.
"The utilities in general are very good about working with customers directly," Melnykovych said.
Struggling households might also be able to secure help from the statewide WinterCare Energy Fund, which is funded by voluntary contributions when other customers pay their bills, or by similar programs at various utility companies.
For more information about LIHEAP, WinterCare or weatherization programs, contact the Audubon Area Community Services agency at:
- Henderson County: 324 First St. in Henderson or 826-6071.
- Union County: 227 Richards Lane in Morganfield or 389-3742.
- Webster County: 64 N. College St. in Dixon or 639-5635.
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