For Immediate Release
Contact
Addie Kauzlarich
202-872-2680 (media hotline)
Customers urged not to wait for winter heating bills to arrive before applying for energy assistance.
WASHINGTON, DC (October 25, 2022) — Pepco is encouraging residential customers to apply for energy assistance and take advantage of tens of millions of dollars that are now available through the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which began accepting applications for the current program year in the District of Columbia on October 1, 2022. The LIHEAP year began in Maryland in July. LIHEAP is a federally funded program that helps limited-income households with their home energy bills. But customers should not wait for winter heating bills to arrive before applying for help – LIHEAP is a first come, first served program and is only available until money runs out.
"As temperatures start to drop, we know energy bills will increase as we start to warm our homes and businesses," said Morlon Bell-Izzard, senior vice president and chief customer officer for Pepco Holdings. "We understand that rising energy costs and inflation are impacting our customers and want them to know we are committed to doing all we can to manage energy prices and to helping connect them to energy assistance and the information they need to help manage their energy bills. We urge customers to take advantage of programs like LIHEAP now, before winter bills hit, and to contact us if they need help."
LIHEAP provides grants in varying amounts (up to $1,800 in the District of Columbia and $2,213 in Maryland), with no payback required, based on a household's income, type of fuel and type of dwelling. Homeowners, renters, roomers, and subsidized housing tenants may be eligible. Customers do not have to be behind on their bills to receive a grant. Last year, Pepco worked closely with community partners to help 31,030 customers secure $57.9 million in support that was applied directly to their energy bills.
Maryland customers can review eligibility requirements and apply for LIHEAP (also referred to as the Maryland Energy Assistance Program, or MEAP) through the Department of Human Services website or by calling the Maryland Department of Human Services Office of Home Energy Programs at 800-332-6347. District of Columbia residents can review eligibility requirements and apply for assistance online though the Department of Energy and the Environment (DOEE) website or by calling 3-1-1. As a reminder, District residents who have received LIHEAP assistance in the past must recertify their need for assistance this year. Enrollment will not roll over automatically.
When applying for assistance, customers should have: 1) a government issued photo ID, 2) copies of social security cards for all household members, 3) proof of income, 4) a copy of their most recent energy bill, and 5) proof of residence (current lease or mortgage statement – MD residents only).
Other energy assistance for District residents includes:
Other energy assistance for Maryland residents includes:
If customers are having difficulty paying their energy bill, Pepco Customer Care is also available to help with:
Customers can contact Pepco at 202-833-7500 to discuss payment arrangements or visit pepco.com/EnergyAssistance to learn more about energy assistance options.
In addition to payment arrangements and energy assistance support, Pepco has many programs that can help customers manage their monthly energy bill, including Budget Billing, which averages payments over a 12-month period. The company also offers energy efficiency programs and energy saving information to help customers reduce their energy usage. Information regarding these programs can be found at pepco.com/WaysToSave.
To learn more about Pepco, visit The Source, Pepco's online newsroom. Find additional information by visiting pepco.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/PepcoConnect on Twitter at twitter.com/PepcoConnect. Pepco's mobile app is available at pepco.com/MobileApp.