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Public Steps Forward to Assist Families With Gas Bills in Response to Peoples Energy's 'Gift of Warmth' Program
Public Steps Forward to Assist Families With Gas Bills in Response to Peoples Energy's 'Gift of Warmth' Program
Published 12-23-02
Submitted by Peoples Energy Corporation
"Peoples Energy is encouraged by the positive response to its outreach efforts from the community at large," said Donald M. Field, president of Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas."The solution to the issue of residents who cannot afford to pay their energy costs is one that involves the greater community and it is clear that people want to help their neighbors."
Throughout the fall, the company has promoted its programs and financial assistance available to assist customers with restoring their heat or avoiding disconnection.
As a result of the positive media coverage, numerous people have come forward to help customers:
A reader of the New York Times contacted our Customer Relations department to help pay a 72-year-old customer's bill, restoring gas service after more than two years without heat.
A number of Chicagoans donated funds to help restore gas service to another customer, who received a Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) grant, but could not come up with the necessary payment to restore gas service.
Through partnerships with the City of Chicago, local organizations and community leaders, Peoples Energy is providing some relief to area residents. The company has worked to help customers explore every option available to them to manage this winter's heating bills. Peoples Energy has asked the Illinois delegation in Washington, DC to insist that the federal government restore LIHEAP funding to last year's levels in order to assist additional local low-income families. In addition to working with local, state and federal officials, Peoples Energy has two financial assistance programs -- the Gift of Warmth and Share the Warmth -- in place to help customers.
In November, the company launched the Gift of Warmth program, which allows individuals and groups to help those who may need assistance with their gas bills. Since the launch of the Gift of Warmth card, the company has collected nearly $15,000 from community leaders, residents and its own employees. This is in addition to the $10,000 the company donated to local charities to distribute to clients they serve.
The Share the Warmth program, which is administered by the Salvation Army, makes grants up to $200 annually to a household. Under the program, a family of four with an annual income between $27,156 and $36,204 or 150%-200% of the federal poverty level will be eligible for a Share the Warmth grant. This year, Peoples Energy provided grants to 1,000 families through our Share the Warmth program.
The problem cannot be resolved by any one company or any one program. As the colder part of winter approaches, now is the time for the government, the public and private sectors to further embrace this issue by starting or expanding their own programs and by supporting Peoples Energy programs.
Recently, the Shields Township Phoenix Rising Foundation -- which serves North Chicago, Lake Bluff and Lake Forest in Peoples Energy's North Shore Gas territory -- became directly involved with the Gift of Warmth program to assist low income families in its area. On December 13, they began a fund drive to raise money to assist residents with paying their natural gas bills this heating season.
"This outreach effort has become even more important this winter because residents -- even in the northern suburbs -- are struggling to pay their home energy costs in a year when funding for LIHEAP emergency services grants was significantly reduced," said Charles Fitzgerald, Shields Township supervisor. "It's important for others to step in and fill the need."
Peoples Energy (NYSE: PGL), a member of the S&P 500, is a diversified energy company comprised of five primary business segments: Gas Distribution, Power Generation, Midstream Services, Retail Energy Services, and Oil and Gas Production. The Gas Distribution business serves about 1 million retail customers in Chicago and northeastern Illinois. Visit the Peoples Energy web site at PeoplesEnergy.com .
