Nervous about your energy bill this winter? While we can’t change the cost of the fuel or the temperature outdoors, we can help you learn how to save energy to save money!
An excellent place to start is the U.S. Department of Energy’s A Consumer’s Guide to Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. Selecting Energy Audits will give you information on how to assess of your home’s energy efficiency. The site will also tell you how to find and fix air leaks, improve insulation, and other fixes to help you save both energy and money.
Also, Cl&P’s Home Energy Solutions energy audits are available to all households for free if you heat with natural gas or electricity. Call 1-877-WISE-USE or visit the Home Energy Solutions Web page.
The State of Connecticut’s Furnace & Boiler Replacement Rebate Program provides up to $500 to households that purchase and install replacement natural gas, propane, or oil furnaces and boilers between July 1, 2007 and June 30, 2017. Contact the Office of Policy and Management at 1-866-940-4676 or visit their Web page on the Furnace and Boiler Replacement Rebate Program for an application, income eligibility guidelines, and more information.
The Connecticut Energy Assistance Program (CEAP) and the Contingency Heating Assistance Program(CHAP) both help offset the costs of winter heating and also pay for weatherization services. For income eligibility and benefit levels, contact the Department of Social Services (DSS) at 1-800-842-1132 or visit the Winter Heating AssistanceWeb page at DSS. You can also contact Infoline at 211or visit the Infoline’s CEAP and CHAP pages.
Connecticut Housing Investment Fund’s(CHIF) Energy Conservation Loan Programprovides low- or no-interest, long-term loans for energy-efficient upgrades including furnaces and boilers, thermal windows and doors, insulation, hot water heaters and replacement roofs. Contact CHIF at 1-800-992-3665 or www.chif.org for more details.
CL&P’s Weatherization Residential Assistance Partnership (WRAP) helps income-eligible customers reduce their energy bills by making their homes more energy efficient. Call 1-800-388-WRAP (9727) or visit WRAP for an application and find out if you qualify for a free, in-home visit by an energy specialist.
You say you’ve winterized your house into a snug cocoon, but your energy costs are still beyond your means? Perhaps these programs can help you:
The Elderly Home Heating Assistance Program(EHHAP) is targeted to assist state residents age 65 years and older who are unable to make timely payments on their heating bills. Grants up to $500 are available to applicants whose incomes are equal to or less than 100 percent of the State Median Income. Operation Fuel will handle applications for this program, with funding available after December 1, 2008. Call Infoline at 211 for information.
Operation Fuel provides cash assistance for heating expenses for households with incomes from 150% of the Federal Poverty Level to 100% of the State Median Income guidelines who are in crisis. For information on the fuel bank program they administer, call Infoline at 211 or search Infoline for “Operation Fuel.” You can also download a PDF document listing the various regional fuel banks to find a local contact number in your area.
Similarly, CL&P’s NUSTART program is designed to help low- and fixed-income customers maintain year-round electric service. Through NUSTART, customers can reduce or eliminate their past-due balance if they pay an agreed-upon budgeted amount on time, each month. Call CL&P at 1-800-286-2828.
Filed under: Library | Tagged: assistance, energy, psa, winter
