Company Volunteers Lend a Hand on LIHEAP Signup Day
For the third year in a row, Duquesne Light employee volunteers spent a Saturday in November assisting low- and
limited-income individuals to apply for federal grants to help pay their winter heating bills. More than 25 company
volunteers helped out on Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) signup day at the following sites:
Goodwill Industries in McKeesport;
Holy Family Institute in McKees Rocks;
Goodwill Industries in Rochester;
Goodwill Industries on Pittsburgh’s South Side; and
Holy Family Institute in Swissvale.
A total of 188 applications were accepted at the five locations. Completing an application early increases an eligible
individual’s chance of receiving a grant. Copies of documents were made for free and all applications were hand
delivered, saving postage for applicants.
In addition to holding the signup day, the company mails thousands of LIHEAP applications to customers who qualified the
prior year. Along with LIHEAP, Duquesne Light – through its Universal Services group – offers a variety of energy
assistance and saving programs. The company’s Customer Assistance Program (CAP) is open to all households that meet the
income eligibility, based upon the federal poverty guidelines. The CAP forgives arrears over time and lowers the monthly
payment, based on the ability to pay.
Other Universal Services programs include Smart Comfort, Customer Assistance & Referral Evaluation Service (CARES) and
the Dollar Energy Fund. Of these programs, CARES and Smart Comfort are designed to assist customers in the neighborhoods
where they live. In addition, the company partners with community-based organizations, whose satellite offices enable
customers to complete applications for energy assistance and CAP in their communities, as well.
For more on the company’s assistance programs, go to the “Customer Services” link at the top of the homepage and click
on “Bills & Payments,” “Paying My Bill” and “Universal Services.”
More than 25 Duquesne Light employee volunteers participated in LIHEAP signup day.
