Pennsylvania grant & resource directory - pa house
Pennsylvania grant & resource directory - pa house
Pennsylvania grant & resource directory - pa house
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Public Utility Commission (PUC)<br />
www.puc.state.<strong>pa</strong>.us www.<strong>pa</strong>powerswitch.com<br />
The <strong>Pennsylvania</strong> Public Utility Commission balances the needs of consumers and utilities to ensure safe and<br />
reliable utility service at reasonable rates; protects the public interest; educates consumers to make independent<br />
and informed utility choices; furthers economic development; and fosters new technologies and competitive<br />
markets in an environmentally sound manner.<br />
The commission launched www.PAPowerSwitch.com, an online consumer-shopping tool. PA PowerSwitch<br />
allows consumers to enter their zip code and see the competitive offers and prices available in their area. Other<br />
features include: a S<strong>pa</strong>nish-language com<strong>pa</strong>nion site for PAPowerSwitch; consumer alert e-mails to customers<br />
who plugged their zip codes and contact information into the site to receive weekly updates on suppliers and<br />
prices available in them; a new printable version of the zip-code-searchable supplier list is now available and in<br />
larger print for seniors; and a “PA PowerSwitch” brochure available on the website and upon request.<br />
PA PowerSwitch is just one of the educational tools. Brochures, speaking engagements, roundtable discussions<br />
and conferences are other ways used successfully to help consumers shop wisely for utility services. To find<br />
more information on upcoming events, check out the Consumer Education Events Schedule on the web at:<br />
www.puc.state.<strong>pa</strong>.us/general/consumer_ed/consumer_ed_events.aspx.<br />
Consumer Education Partnerships – The PUC <strong>pa</strong>rtners with various com<strong>pa</strong>nies and organizations to<br />
bring programs to consumers. Past <strong>pa</strong>rtnerships have included the Utility Com<strong>pa</strong>nies, State Agencies, AARP<br />
Chapters, Area Agency on Aging, Community-Based Organizations, Legislators, Consortiums, Health Care<br />
Agencies, Schools, Religious-Based Organizations and Consumer Advocates.<br />
For more information or to schedule an educational workshop, seminar, staff training or any other consumer<br />
education event, please contact our Consumer Education Specialists. Contact – Shari Williams at: (215) 560-<br />
6901, Christina Chase-Pettis at: (717) 772-8884, Erika Dominick at: (717) 787-4970 or David Hixson at: (717)<br />
787-5722. For informal complaints or termination issues please contact the PUC’s Bureau of Consumer Services<br />
(BCS) toll free hotline at: (800) 692-7380.<br />
PENNSYLVANIA BOARDS & COMMISSIONS<br />
ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS<br />
Budget Billing – All residential customers may contact their electric or natural gas com<strong>pa</strong>ny and request<br />
budget billing at any time. Each monthly bill will be the same amount. The com<strong>pa</strong>ny may adjust the bill four<br />
times a year, up or down, depending on the customer’s usage.<br />
Customer Assistance Program (CAP) – CAPs can lower your monthly utility bill. CAPs may also remove the<br />
amount you already owe. The different CAP names are shown beside the com<strong>pa</strong>ny names below. The com<strong>pa</strong>ny<br />
works with the customer to determine what the customer can <strong>pa</strong>y verses the cost of energy used.<br />
Customer Assistance Referral and Evaluation Program (CARES) – The CARES program helps customers<br />
with special needs. CARES may help you find ways to <strong>pa</strong>y your utility bill. For example, special needs are<br />
customers who are experiencing family emergencies, divorce, unemployment or medical emergencies. The goal is<br />
to provide support and direction to help customers <strong>pa</strong>y their utility bills.<br />
Hardship Funds – Utility com<strong>pa</strong>nies have hardship funds that provide cash assistance to utility customers<br />
to help them <strong>pa</strong>y their utility bills. Hardship funds provide assistance <strong>grant</strong>s to customers who “fall through<br />
the cracks” of other financial assistance programs, or to those who still have a critical need for assistance after<br />
the other <strong>resource</strong>s have been exhausted. The funds make <strong>pa</strong>yments directly to com<strong>pa</strong>nies on behalf of eligible<br />
customers.<br />
PA Grant & Resource Directory<br />
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