OTDA Home → News & Public Information → Press Releases → Press Release
Statement from Governor David A. Paterson on Congress' Approval of Full LIHEAP Funding
Congress Increases Funding for Low-Income Consumers to Help Them Pay Heating Bills
Governor Paterson said:
“The federal government’s commitment of $476 million in Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funds to New York will enable New York’s Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) to deal with what is expected to be a winter with significantly increased demand for aid in home heating bills for low-income families, senior citizens and the disabled. Congress’ action will significantly boost efforts to provide relief to cash-strapped New Yorkers unsure about how they will afford to heat their homes this winter heating season.
“New York State has already taken strong action to help at-risk residents get through this winter, and state agencies have come together to collaborate in an unprecedented fashion in addressing this vital issue. Earlier this month, the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) announced significant increases in eligibility and benefits levels for the HEAP program, and raised the maximum grant to $800, the amount needed to guarantee eligible households a fuel delivery.
“I would like to thank Senator Schumer, Senator Clinton and the rest of our Congressional delegation for their hard work to secure additional funding to help vulnerable New Yorkers heat their homes this winter in the face of record-high energy costs. Now, President Bush must approve this measure, and I urge him to do so immediately.”
Changes to New York’s 2008-09 HEAP program being implemented by OTDA include:
- Increasing income eligibility to the maximum level permitted by federal level (for example, $45,312 per year for a family of four);
- Increasing regular and emergency benefits to $800 for delivered fuel customers, to enable them to purchase a minimum delivery of fuel given price increases, and raising the maximum regular benefit to $585 for all other customers; and
- Waiving the face-to-face application requirement for most applicants for emergency benefits
Additionally, New York State is working on a number of fronts to improve energy efficiency and provide additional bill assistance to help lower energy bills this winter, including:
- An emergency utility summit held yesterday by the Department of Public Service to discuss utility budget billing programs, community outreach efforts and other options for making bill payment easier, and consider enhancements to termination policies to reduce the likelihood of service disruptions during cold weather months;
- A $32 million increase in the amount of low-income funding, approved by the Public Service Commission (PSC) and provided by local utility companies and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), to improve the energy efficiency of homes. NYSERDA will also spend an additional $2 million this winter to help more New Yorkers reduce their energy use while also keeping their homes heated;
- $18.8 million for energy efficiency in the Con Edison and National Grid gas service territories; this funding, approved by the PSC, will provide efficiency services that will help to reduce natural gas bills for New York families, particularly low-income households, this winter;
- A $5 million “Weatherization Blitz” offered by the New York Power Authority (NYPA), to customers served by municipal electric systems throughout Upstate New York. NYPA will distribute “do-it-yourself” kits and energy savings tip sheets to residents through these utilities that could result in energy savings in the upcoming months;
- $10 million has been made available by the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) to its low-income senior customers for direct bill payment assistance. In addition, LIPA will be expanding its support for improved energy efficiency in homes for all of its customers on Long Island and in New York City; and
- Coordinating outreach and energy efficiency programs and services across State agencies to ensure better cooperation, flexibility, administrative efficiency and simplicity among government services.
In addition, the Governor’s Office is hosting the annual Winter Fuels Outlook meeting on Tuesday, September 30, 2008 at the State Capitol, bringing industry together with government to assess the outlook for energy prices and availability of supplies in the coming winter months.