Utility Customers Offered Plans To Help Weather The Winter
Utility Customers Offered Plans To Help Weather The Winter
BERLIN â The Connecticut Light and Power Company (CL&P) and Yankee Gas Services Company offer programs to assist customers who may have difficulty paying their electric and natural gas bills this winter, or who want to spread their energy costs over a year.
CL&P and Yankee Gas offer Winter Protection programs that protect qualified, income-eligible customers from electric service shut-offs or natural gas shut-offs for nonpayment from November 1, 2008, to May 1, 2009.
To qualify, a customerâs total household income will be considered.
Additional criteria that may also qualify a customer for Winter Protection can include aid to the blind, elderly and disabled, temporary family assistance, food stamps, Medicaid, general assistance, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or a serious or life-threatening illness in the household.
Customers still receive their bills and should try to pay what they can each month to avoid a larger balance due when the protection period ends.
The Matching Payment Program allows limited-income customers with past-due balances to work out monthly payment arrangements so their service is provided year-round.
Customers must heat with electricity to qualify for the CL&P Matching Payment Program or heat with natural gas to qualify for the Yankee Gas Matching Payment Program. In addition, a customerâs total household income will be considered, customers must apply and qualify for energy assistance funds, and must make and keep a monthly payment arrangement.
CL&P and Yankee Gas customers who maintain eligibility under the Matching Payment Program will see an additional reduction in their past-due amount for every dollar paid.
Customers who successfully complete the program will also receive a match on their energy assistance reward, up to a zero balance.
CL&P customers who want more information about the Winter Protection and Matching Payment programs should call 800-286-2828 (860-947-2828 in the Hartford and Meriden calling areas). Yankee Gas customers should call 800-438-2278.