Navigating utility bills can be challenging, especially during tough times. PECO understands this and offers a range of Universal Service Programs, often referred to collectively as the Peco Cares Program, designed to support eligible customers in managing their energy costs. These programs provide various forms of assistance, from bill discounts to energy conservation measures and connections to community resources. If you’re struggling to keep up with your PECO bills, understanding these programs is the first step towards finding relief.
To inquire about and apply for PECO’s Low Income Programs, you can directly call 1-800-774-7040.
PECO’s assistance programs are designed to provide multifaceted support:
- CAP (Customer Assistance Program): Reduces your monthly bill based on your household income, making energy more affordable.
- LIURP (Low Income Usage Reduction Program): Helps lower your energy consumption through efficiency measures, leading to sustained savings on your bills.
- CARES (Customer Assistance and Referral Evaluation Services): Connects you with local social service agencies that can provide support beyond utility bills.
- MEAF (Matching Energy Assistance Fund): Offers grants to prevent service shut-off or to restore disconnected service, providing crucial financial aid during crises.
Delving into the CAP Program
The Customer Assistance Program (CAP) is a cornerstone of the PECO Cares Program, directly addressing affordability for eligible customers.
What Benefits Does CAP Offer?
CAP provides significant financial relief through several key benefits:
Reduced Monthly Payments
As a CAP participant, you’ll receive a substantial discount on your ongoing electricity or gas usage. PECO offers a tiered discount system for electric and gas customers, ensuring that the level of assistance is aligned with your income level. This direct discount on your energy consumption translates into tangible savings on your monthly bills, making your energy expenses more manageable.
Debt Freezing
Enrollment in CAP offers immediate protection against pre-existing debt. When you join CAP, any outstanding balance you owe PECO is frozen. This means that as long as you consistently make your CAP payments in full and on time, PECO will not pursue collections on this past debt, and no additional late payment fees will be applied to it. This freeze provides a crucial breathing space, allowing you to focus on managing your current energy costs without the added pressure of accumulating debt.
Debt Forgiveness
Perhaps one of the most impactful benefits of CAP is the opportunity for complete debt forgiveness. By demonstrating consistent payment behavior and paying your CAP bill on time and in full for six consecutive months, PECO will forgive your entire frozen outstanding debt. This clean slate provides a fresh start and eliminates the burden of past balances, paving the way for long-term financial stability regarding your energy bills.
CAP Eligibility: Do You Qualify?
To be eligible for the CAP program, you need to meet specific criteria:
- Income Level: Your household income must be at or below 150% of the Federal poverty income guidelines. You can click here to view a table with the Federal poverty income guidelines to check if your income qualifies.
- Payment Difficulty: You must be experiencing trouble paying your PECO bills.
- Program Participation Agreement: You are required to apply for LIHEAP (Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program) and agree to receive LIURP services from PECO. This integrated approach ensures comprehensive support for your energy needs.
Your Responsibilities as a CAP Participant
Maintaining your CAP benefits requires fulfilling certain responsibilities:
- Application: Contact PECO at 1-800-774-7040 to apply for CAP.
- Income Verification: Complete the application process and provide necessary income verification documents.
- Timely Payments: Pay your CAP bill in full and on time every month. Consistent payment behavior is crucial for remaining in the program and benefiting from debt forgiveness.
Program Removal and Re-enrollment
It’s important to understand the circumstances that could lead to removal from CAP:
- Payment Delinquency: Failure to pay your CAP bill in full and on time each month can result in late charges and potential service termination.
- Eligibility Changes: If your household income increases above the program guidelines, or if you fail to provide annual income information when requested, or if you do not comply with other program guidelines, you may be removed from CAP.
If you are removed from CAP, re-enrolling is possible. To regain your CAP status, you must pay all outstanding CAP bills that you missed.
Exploring the LIURP Program
Another key component of the PECO Cares Program is the Low Income Usage Reduction Program (LIURP). LIURP focuses on long-term energy bill reduction by helping eligible households conserve energy.
What is LIURP?
LIURP is designed to assist households with high energy consumption by providing resources and services to reduce energy use. By lowering your energy consumption, LIURP helps you achieve lower monthly energy bills and promotes sustainable energy practices.
LIURP Eligibility: Who Can Benefit?
You may qualify for LIURP under the following conditions:
- Income and Energy Usage: You qualify if you are a high energy user and your household income is at or below 150% of the Federal poverty income guidelines. Alternatively, you may also qualify if your household income is between 150% and 200% of the Federal poverty income guidelines and you have a past due balance. Click here to view a table with the Federal poverty income guidelines.
- Minimum Energy Usage Requirements: PECO has specific minimum energy usage requirements for LIURP eligibility. For electric heat, you must use at least 1,400 kWh monthly. For gas heat, the minimum is 100 ccf’s monthly. For non-CAP customers with electric baseload usage, the requirement is greater than or equal to 600 kWh monthly (500 kWh monthly for CAP customers).
To confirm your eligibility, you can call 1-800-675-0222. Applications for LIURP services are accepted year-round.
LIURP Benefits: Reducing Your Energy Footprint
Participating in LIURP offers several valuable benefits:
- Reduced Energy Consumption: LIURP’s primary goal is to help you lower your monthly energy usage. By implementing energy-saving measures and adopting efficient habits, you can significantly reduce your energy consumption.
- Free Home Energy Assessment: You will receive a free comprehensive home energy usage review conducted by energy professionals. This assessment identifies areas where energy is being wasted and provides tailored recommendations for improvement.
- Energy Education: LIURP includes valuable energy education to empower you with knowledge and strategies to reduce your energy use effectively. You’ll learn practical tips and techniques to conserve energy in your daily life.
- Weatherization Measures and Appliance Upgrades: LIURP may include the installation of weatherization measures in your home, such as insulation improvements and sealing air leaks. In some cases, it may also involve the replacement of old, inefficient appliances with new energy-efficient models. These upgrades are designed to provide long-term energy savings and improve your home’s energy efficiency.
Your Role as a LIURP Participant
As a LIURP participant, you have certain responsibilities:
- Income Verification: You must agree to submit verification of your household income as part of the application process.
- Landlord Permission (if applicable): If you are a tenant, you will need to obtain landlord permission to receive LIURP services, as some measures may involve property modifications.
- Home Energy Audit and Inspection: You must allow a PECO employee or subcontractor to inspect your residence and perform an initial energy audit to assess your energy usage and identify areas for improvement. You also need to allow a follow-up inspection one year after the installation of conservation measures to evaluate the program’s effectiveness and measure energy consumption reduction.
The CARES Program: Connecting You to Community Support
The Customer Assistance and Referral Evaluation Services (CARES) program, another vital part of the PECO Cares Program, offers a different form of support by connecting customers facing temporary hardships with community resources.
How CARES Works
CARES acts as a bridge, linking customers who are struggling to pay their bills due to temporary difficulties with social service agencies and non-profit organizations in their local community. These community partners can provide a wide range of assistance to help customers manage their challenges beyond just utility bills.
CARES Eligibility: When to Seek Help
PECO may refer you to the CARES program if you meet certain criteria:
- Income Level: Your income is at or below 200% of the Federal poverty income guidelines (click here to view a table with the Federal poverty income guidelines).
- Specific Circumstances: You may also be eligible if you are a senior citizen, receive government-based income, are experiencing payment difficulties, and are facing special circumstances.
- Temporary Hardships: CARES is specifically designed to support customers experiencing temporary hardships such as divorce, family emergencies, unemployment, or medical emergencies.
CARES Benefits: Accessing Local Resources
Participation in CARES provides valuable access to community support:
- Referrals to Assistance Agencies: CARES participants receive free referrals to assistance agencies in their local community. These may include non-profit organizations, social service agencies, and other support providers that can address various needs.
- Referrals to Other PECO Programs: CARES can also connect you with other relevant PECO Universal Services programs, ensuring you receive comprehensive assistance tailored to your situation.
- Special Payment Arrangements: Depending on your payment history and specific circumstances, CARES may facilitate special payment arrangements with PECO to help you manage your outstanding balance and avoid service disruptions.
The MEAF Program: Emergency Financial Assistance
The Matching Energy Assistance Fund (MEAF) program is a crucial safety net within the PECO Cares Program. MEAF provides cash grants to customers facing service shut-off or seeking reconnection.
MEAF: A Hardship Fund
MEAF operates as a hardship fund, offering direct financial assistance to help customers pay down outstanding balances, particularly when the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is closed. MEAF grants are administered by designated agencies throughout Pennsylvania, including the Utility Emergency Services Fund (UESF) in Philadelphia and Suburban Fuel Funds in surrounding counties.
MEAF Grant Benefits: Immediate Financial Relief
- Grant Amounts: If you qualify for MEAF, you may receive up to $500 per utility commodity (gas or electric) to be applied towards your past due utility debt. This direct financial assistance can significantly reduce your outstanding balance and alleviate immediate financial pressure.
- Support for CAP Payments: MEAF grants can also be used to help make up for missed CAP payments, ensuring you remain in good standing with the Customer Assistance Program and continue to receive its benefits.
When to Apply for MEAF Grants
The application periods and specific eligibility requirements for MEAF grants vary depending on whether you are applying through UESF in Philadelphia or Suburban Fuel Funds:
- UESF (Philadelphia): UESF applicants can apply at any time if they are ineligible for LIHEAP. If your verified income falls between 135% and 175% of the Federal poverty income guidelines, you may apply even when LIHEAP is open.
- Suburban Fuel Funds (Chester, Montgomery, Delaware, York, and Bucks counties): Applicants to Suburban Fuel Funds must have already applied for LIHEAP when applicable. If your verified income is between 135% and 150% of the Federal poverty income guidelines, applications can be made while LIHEAP is open.
MEAF Eligibility Requirements
Eligibility criteria for MEAF grants differ slightly between UESF and Suburban Fuel Funds:
MEAF UESF Grant Eligibility (Philadelphia Residents):
- Income Limit: Your household income must be at or below 175% of the Federal poverty income guidelines (click here to view a table with the Federal poverty income guidelines).
- Residency: You must be a resident of Philadelphia.
- Service Status: Your utility service must be shut off or in a shut-off status.
- Bill Responsibility: The utility bill must be in your name or your spouse’s name.
- Employment and Dependents (if employed): If you are employed, you must be the head of a household supporting at least one minor or senior dependent.
- Grant History: You must not have received a UESF grant within the past two years.
- LIHEAP Application: You must have applied for LIHEAP Cash and Crisis assistance programs when they were available.
- Grant Impact: The MEAF grant must be sufficient to reduce your utility bill balance to zero, either on its own or when combined with other resources.
MEAF Suburban Fuel Funds Grant Eligibility (Suburban Counties):
- Income Limit: Your household income must be at or below 150% of the Federal poverty income guidelines (click here to view a table with the Federal poverty income guidelines).
- Residency: You must be a resident of the county in which you are applying for the grant (Chester, Montgomery, Delaware, York, or Bucks).
- Service Status: Your utility service must be shut off or in a shut-off status.
- Bill Responsibility: The electric or gas bill must be in the customer’s name.
- LIHEAP Application: You must have applied for LIHEAP Cash and Crisis assistance programs when they were available.
- Weatherization Services: You must have signed up for weatherization services provided by your county.
- Grant Impact: The grant must reduce your utility bill balance to zero, whether used alone or in combination with other resources.
The PECO Cares Program represents a comprehensive suite of services designed to assist customers facing financial hardship. From bill discounts and energy efficiency programs to community referrals and emergency grants, PECO offers a range of solutions to help individuals and families manage their energy needs and maintain essential utility services. If you are struggling with your PECO bills, exploring these programs is a crucial step towards finding the support you need.
