NEWS RELEASE
Maine Public Utilities
Commission
Website: www.maine.gov/mpuc, Email: maine.puc@maine.gov
CONTACT: Derek Davidson, (207) 287-1596,
derek.d.davidson@maine.gov
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 4, 2006
Maine PUC to Assist
Low Income Families with Electric Bills
AUGUSTA, ME – The Maine Public Utilities Commission (MPUC)
has voted to increase the Statewide Low-Income Assistance Plan by 20% to help
Maine families keep pace with rising electricity rates. “Low-income families are facing a double
barreled threat of high gas prices and high electricity rates,” said Maine PUC
Chairman, Kurt Adams. “The
decision to increase the funding level of Maine’s Statewide Low
Income-Assistance Plan will help ensure that Maine’s most vulnerable citizens
have access to affordable electricity.”
The Statewide Plan is designed to make electric bills more
affordable for qualified low-income consumers.
Consumers who qualify for participation in Maine’s LIHEAP program also
qualify for participation in the Statewide Plan. A central fund, managed by the PUC and funded
by the electric utilities through their rates finances the Statewide Plan and
apportions the fund to these same electric utilities based on the percentage of
LIHEAP eligible households in each utility’s service territory. This ensures that funds are available in the
areas where the need exists. The planned
increase will take the program from $5,790,221 to $6,966,317, beginning on
October 1 of this year.
During the 2004/2005
program year, 23,161 electric utility customers participated in the Low Income
Program. Joyce Scott, the Executive
Director of the Waldo Community Action Partners, stated, “This year, because of the unprecedented cost
for gasoline and fuel, the low and fixed income families that we serve are
experiencing a year like no other. The
PUC's decision to increase the funding level of Maine’s Statewide Low
Income-Assistance Plan will help ensure that Maine’s most vulnerable citizens
have access to affordable electricity and should alleviate some of the stress
and anxiety that customers with limited funds are experiencing.”
The Waldo Community
Action Partners is a non-profit community action agency located in Waldo County
that makes use of and organizes public and private resources to lessen the
impact of poverty on the citizens it serves.
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For more information: http://www.maine.gov/mpuc/consumer/cad.html.
All PUC New
Releases maybe found on our website at: http://www.maine.gov/mpuc/staying_informed/news/press_release.shtml
To arrange an
interview with Chairman Adams or Commissioners Diamond or Reishus, please
contact Phillip Lindley at 207.287.1598 or by e-mail at phil.lindley@maine.gov. The Commission’s website may be accessed
through the