PUC Urges Consumers: “Call Utilities Now” to Stay Warm, Safe, and Connected This Winter

(Photo Provided with Release Courtesy of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrisburg, PA) According to a release today from the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, they are urging consumers to act early if they are worried about paying winter heating bills as colder weather settles across Pennsylvania. New challenges are being created for Pennsylvania households, which include energy costs that are rising, weather that is unpredictable, and uncertainty about federal assistance programs, including the delayed start of the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), and uncertainty about federal funding levels, especially for families who have relied on grants from LIHEAP to stay connected to utility services that are essential. According to that same release from the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, here are some tips they recommend to stay warm as the winter months in Pennsylvania get closer:

Your Winter Energy Checklist: Simple Steps to Save and Stay Connected

To help consumers prepare for colder months, the PUC encourages everyone to take these simple steps:

  1. Review your utility bills. Understand your current rate and usage — and how colder weather can increase demand.
  2. Don’t wait to call. If you’re worried about paying your bill, contact your utility now to ask about assistance programs or payment plans.
  3. Ask about affordability programs. Utilities offer programs like CAPs, budget billing, and hardship funds that can reduce your monthly costs.
  4. Make small energy-saving changes. Lower your thermostat by one or two degrees, check furnace filters, and seal drafts — small actions that add up.
  5. Explore energy-saving tools. Visit PAPowerSwitch.com and PAGasSwitch.com for energy tips, shopping options, and more ways to save.

Staying Warm, Safe, and Connected

  • Consumers who cannot resolve issues directly with their utility can contact the PUC’s Bureau of Consumer Services at 1-800-692-7380 for help or more information about available programs.