CANONSBURG — Columbia Gas reminds its customers that crisis grants available through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) offer additional benefits to assist income-eligible households without heat or in danger of being without heat.
LIHEAP is a federally funded program administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services. It provides cash grants ranging from $200 to $1,000 to assist in paying winter heating bills. Crisis grants, ranging from $25 to $600, can help households with emergency situations such as:
• Broken heating equipment or leaking lines that must be fixed or replaced
• Lack of fuel or the danger of being without a fuel supply
• The danger of having utility service terminated or the main or secondary sources of heat have been shut off.
“LIHEAP is an important resource to keep our at-risk customers safe and warm during cold weather, and crisis grants can provide extra help when an emergency comes up,” said Deb Davis, Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania manager, Universal Services. “Anyone who needs assistance with a heating bill and meets the income guidelines should apply. It’s a one-time grant, so you don’t have to repay it.”
The income eligibility limit for the 2019-2020 program is 150 percent of the federal poverty income guidelines. This means individuals with an annual income of up to $18,735 are eligible to apply. A family of four can earn an annual income of up to $38,625. Households can apply for grants until April 10. Last season, more than 21,000 Columbia Gas customers received LIHEAP grants to help with their energy costs.
