Last winter, more than 9,000 low-income and working poor families and seniors
took advantage of Duquesne Light’s “Stay Warm” initiative. Once again, we’re offering
the five Stay Warm programs – designed to extend the safety net during the cold
weather months (Dec. 1 through March 31) by helping disconnected, low-income customers
have their service reconnected and providing other working poor customers credits of
up to $150 to offset arrearages on their accounts (other than their current month’s bill).
Following are details on these special programs for the winter of 2006-07.
Stay Warm 150
Who: Customers whose service is off and whose
income is 150 percent, or less, of the federal poverty level.
What: Will credit each account with a one-time payment of $150 and, with a
successful application for a Dollar Energy Fund grant, will reconnect all customers in
this category. Duquesne Light’s grant of $150 will allow these customers to access
additional LIHEAP/Crisis and Dollar Energy Fund grants. These customers
also will be enrolled in the company’s Customer Assistance Program (CAP).
Stay Warm Senior 200
Who: Senior customers (62 years of age or older)
whose service is off and whose income is 200 percent, or less, of the federal poverty level.
What: Will credit each customer’s account with a one-time payment of $150 and,
with a successful application for a Dollar Energy Fund grant, will reconnect all customers
in this category. Duquesne’s grant of $150 will allow the customer to access additional grants
of up to $500. These customers also will be enrolled in the company’s CAP.
Stay Warm 200
Who: “Working poor” customers, whose service
is off and whose income is between 150 percent and 200 percent of the federal poverty level.
What: Duquesne will credit each customer’s account with a one-time payment of $150
and, with a successful application for a Dollar Energy Fund grant, will reconnect all
customers in this category. Duquesne’s grant of $150 will allow the customer to access
additional grants of up to $500.
Stay Warm 250
Who: “Working poor” customers, whose service
is off and whose income is between 200 percent and 250 percent of the federal poverty level.
What: Will credit each customer’s account with a one-time payment of $150 and
reconnect all customers in this category, once income verification has been completed.
Stay Warm Plus 150
Who: Customers whose service is on, whose
income is 150 percent to 250 percent of the federal poverty level, and who have an
arrearage (other than the current month’s bill).
What: Duquesne will credit each customer's account with matching grants up to a total of $150 during the
winter months of December 2006, January 2007, February 2007 and March 2007 while funds are available, for any
payment made by the customer to reduce the arrearage. Customers registering for the Stay
Warm Plus 150 program should call 412-393-7200.
For more information on any of the other Stay Warm programs
(Stay Warm 150, 200, 250 and Senior 200), call Duquesne Light’s Universal Services Center
at 1-888-393-7600.
Eligible customers can apply for these special programs for the winter of 2006-2007 at one
of 10 community-based organizations listed below. The community-based organizations help Duquesne Light cost-effectively
ensure that payment-troubled customers on a limited or fixed income have access to
affordable energy. These agencies also enable Duquesne Light customers to apply for
energy assistance in communities close to where they live.
In addition to these new initiatives and its customer assistance program, Duquesne Light
offers a wide range of support year-round to payment-troubled customers. For more
information on these programs, click on the “Need Help Paying Energy Bills” button at
duquesnelight.com.
Duquesne Light "Stay Warm" Program Contact Agencies
Holy Family Institute 211 N. Whitfield St.
Pittsburgh, PA 15206 (East Liberty) (412) 361-2583
Holy Family Institute
1789 S. Braddock Ave.
Suite 585
Pittsburgh, PA 15218
(Swissvale)
(412) 244-8010
Holy Family Institute
North Side Common Ministries
1601 Brighton Rd.
Pittsburgh, PA 15212
(North Side)
(412) 322-6588
Holy Family Institute
19 May St.
McKees Rocks, PA 15136
(412) 331-8665
Goodwill Industries
2600 East Carson St.
Pittsburgh, PA 15203
(South Side)
(412) 390-2313
Goodwill Industries
345 Fifth Ave.
McKeesport, PA 15132
(412) 664-1967
Goodwill Industries
Rochester Plaza
750 Ohio River Blvd.
Rochester, PA 15074
(724) 775-6768
Catholic Charities
212 Ninth St.
8th Floor
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
(Downtown)
(412) 456-6913
Catholic Charities
3582 Broadhead Rd.
Suite 107
Monaca, PA 15061
(724) 775-2034
North Hills Community Outreach
416 Lincoln Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA 15209
(412) 487-6316
Monthly Federal Poverty Guidelines Effective
1-24-06
