Spring is a season of fresh starts — and it’s also a chance to get real financial relief before a key deadline closes.
LIHEAP, the federally funded Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, provides grants of $200 to $1,000 applied directly to your heating bill. The deadline to apply is May 8, and once funding runs out, it’s gone until next season.
Eligibility reaches further than most people expect. A family of four earning up to $49,500 a year may qualify.
LIHEAP is just one opportunity for help. We estimate one in four Peoples customers is eligible for at least one of our assistance programs — and customers can participate in more than one at the same time. Peoples’ income guidelines are among the most inclusive in the region, meaning more working families qualify than you might think.
Our Customer Assistance Program offers lower monthly payments at just 4%-6% of household income, available year-round. Our Emergency Repair Program covers the full cost of repairing broken heating equipment or gas lines for eligible households.
In addition, the Dollar Energy Fund offers one-time grants of up to $500 for customers facing financial hardship.
Applying for these programs is simple. Visit peoples-gas.com/help or call 800-400-WARM (9276) to learn more.
Help is available, and it’s worth taking advantage of it before May 8.
Rita Black
North Shore
The writer is director of customer assistance programs at Peoples Natural Gas.