High demand for fuel assistance forces nonprofit to pause program
High consumer demand for energy assistance is forcing Operation Fuel to put its program on hold for the month of March, officials with the Hartford-based nonprofit organization said Friday.
The year-round, Hartford-based, fuel-assistance program will resume providing energy aid on April 3. Operation Fuel officials said when the program resumes, they will reduce energy grants from $1,000 per household to $500, so they can serve more households.
So far this program year, the program has provided nearly $6 million in energy assistance to more than 6,000 households.
“We regret that we must do this, but feel we had no choice,” said Brenda Watson, Operation Fuel’s executive director. “There has already been an extremely high number of requests for energy assistance this program season. We must pause to get through the backlog so that folks who have applied get their applications reviewed promptly.”
Once the program resumes in April, Operation Fuel will provide energy assistance through May 31 or until funds run out, whichever comes first.
Individuals who needs energy assistance during March, should contact their utility company or the Connecticut Energy Assistance Program by calling 211, Watson said.
Operation Fuel is largely aimed at helping those who don’t qualify for government assistance, but still struggle to pay for fuel and electricity.
Also on Friday, Connecticut’s federal legislative delegation announced Connecticut will receive an additional $19.6 million in federal funding for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), as part of the 2023 omnibus appropriations bill. The state has received more than $105 million in LIHEAP funding since November.
The money comes from the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services.
Operation Fuel is separate from the state energy assistance program, which is funded by LIHEAP. The federal program funnels money into the Connecticut Energy Assistance Program, which targets individuals earning less than 60 percent of the state median income.
“Everywhere I travel across our state, I hear again and again from people fearful and angry about the crushing cost of home heating bills,” U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal said in a statement.
“This $19.6 million for LIHEAP will deliver real relief to Connecticut families when they need it most. No one should ever have to choose between putting food on their table, keeping the lights on, or heating their home, and thanks to this funding, fewer people will face those tough choices this winter.”
“LIHEAP helps thousands of Connecticut families and seniors keep their lights on and their homes warm each year,” added Sen. Chris Murphy.
“This winter’s high energy costs have put a major strain on the program, and that’s why our delegation has consistently pushed the administration to get as much federal funding out the door as possible.”
The announcements come less than two months after electricity costs spiked for a majority of electric customers of Eversource Energy and The United Illuminating Co. A variety of factors drove up the amount that the two utilities standard service customers pay for their electricity, including the rising cost of gas used to help generate electricity.
Electric rates for standard service electric customers, who let Eversource and UI purchase the power they use, change every Jan. 1 and July 1.
The new rates for Eversource have increased bills by 31 percent to 42 percent for the vast majority of customers. United Illuminating customers are now paying 28 percent to 38 percent more than in 2022.
State and federal officials have been working since the standard service rate increases were announced to blunt the effect of the hikes. For example, state officials have sped up a credit related to nuclear power that was set to take effect later this year.