Need Help Staying Warm This Winter?
By: Source: AARP.org Date Posted: 2005-12-21 14:07:03
If you are afraid you may not be able to keep up with paying your heating bills this winter, you need to know your rights and where you can turn for help.
AARP wants all Nebraska consumers to know what they can do when the cost of electricity or natural gas rises faster than their ability to pay.
About two out of every three homes in Nebraska are heated with natural gas utilities including municipal utilities and investor-owned utilities. Municipal utilities operate in Omaha, Hastings, Nebraska City, Falls City, Central City, Superior, Lyons, Stromsburg, Wisner, Pender and Stuart. Investor-owned utilities serve most of the other cities and villages in the state.
The primary investor-owned natural gas utilities are Aquila, Kinder Morgan, NorthWestern Energy, and Mid American. Investor-owned utilities are regulated by the Public Service Commission which has established rules to protect consumers who are struggling with high natural gas bills.
Shutoff Protections
Before your heat can be shut off for non-payment, you must receive a shutoff notice. The notice must be separate from other mailings and must clearly say that it is a shutoff notice. The notice will tell you how you can avoid being shut off and give you several payment options.
In Nebraska, your utilities may not be disconnected within seven working days of the date of the notice. If you are on public assistance, the notice must come by certified mail with a copy sent to your HHS caseworker. If your natural gas service is provided by an investor-owned utility, special rules apply. Between Nov. 1 and March 31 the utility must continue service for an additional 30 days before disconnection.
The Public Service Commission may ban investor-owned utilities from disconnecting natural gas service during extremely severe weather. If turning off your service would worsen your health or disability, you should get a letter from your doctor to give to the company prior to the time your utility is disconnected. This will delay any shutoffs for up to 30 days. Nebraska law states that utility disconnections should only be used as a measure of last resort.
Payment Plans
If you are getting behind in your payments, you should ask the utility company to help. You can suggest a payment plan that works for you. You have the right to bring a family member, friend, or other advocate to help you negotiate a payment plan with your utility company. Depending on the available options, most likely you will need to pay your new bill and work on paying off your past due bills.
Make sure you will be able to afford the new payment plan because if you miss a payment, the total amount you owe will become due and it will be harder to prevent a shutoff. If your natural gas service is provided by an investor-owned utility and you believe the payment plan offered by the utility is unreasonable or they refuse to offer you a payment plan, you may file a complaint with the Public Service Commission by calling 1-800-526-0017.
Budget Billing
You can spread the really high heating costs of winter across the whole year by signing up for budget billing. With budget billing, instead of paying more in winter and less in summer, you pay roughly the same amount every month. Anyone who is current on payments can ask for budget billing. Also ask your utility company if you can pick the day of the month that your payments are due. Budget billing is not a discount program. It does not save you money or lower your rates, but it will make paying your bills more manageable.
To Learn More About LIHEAP, Contact:
Nebraska Health & Human Services
1-800-430-3244
Home Heating Help
You may be able to get an annual one-time grant through the LIHEAP program of $100 or more to help you pay for your heating expenses, including electricity, fuel oil, gas, coal, wood, kerosene, or propane.
The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services decides who is eligible and how big the payment. How much you will get depends on how much money you make, what type of fuel you use, and how many live in your home. You are eligible if your annual income is less than $11,108 ($14,984 for a couple) and you have less than $5000 in resources.
If you have received a shutoff notice you may be able to get up to $500 in extra help through LIHEAP.
To get this extra help you will need to show that you have been trying to keep up with your utility bills but something happened you didn't plan on that caused you to not be able to make your payments. The grant will be paid directly to your energy provider. You can apply for this help between Oct.1 and Aug. 31 at your county health department of health and human services.
Community Emergency Help
Some Nebraska communities can provide emergency assistance because of contributions from individuals and businesses. Some churches and religious organizations offer assistance with utility payments. Check with your utility company, the Salvation Army or the American Red Cross in your area. Veterans may also be able to get emergency help with fuel costs from the Veterans Administration. Contact your local VA agent.
Lowering Energy Bills
You can lower your energy bills by stopping heat from escaping from cracks and gaps around doors and windows and making sure your furnace is working properly.
If your income is less than $12,441 for one and $16,679 for a couple, you can apply for assistance from the Nebraska's Weatherization Assistance program.
This program will help you pay for the cost of buying and installing insulation and weather-stripping, or repairing or replacing your furnace.
Contact your local community action agency for these grants of up to $2,000. Renters and homeowners can also contact the gas or electric company for help in spending less on heat. Ask for an energy audit to look for places where heat is escaping from your home.
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