FROM: State Rep. Don Walko, D-North Side

TO: Editor

DATE: Dec. 10, 2007

MEDIA CONTACT: Ben Turner, 717-787-7895, bturner@pahouse.net

State Representative Don Walko Reports:

Help with heating bills available

            With energy prices rising for many Allegheny County residents, I wanted to let everyone know that the state House has been taking action on energy and that help with heating bills is available for many residents. In this column, I’ll also provide tips on saving energy and money.

            First, here’s some information on the heating-bills program. The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP, is now taking applications, and it’s first-come, first-served.

            Families don’t have to be on cash assistance to qualify for LIHEAP. Consumers can receive assistance even if they have not missed a payment on a heating bill. Also, no lien is placed on the home of people who receive LIHEAP benefits.

            Eligibility is based on household income and family size. For example, a family of four can qualify for LIHEAP if their household income is $30,975 or less.

            LIHEAP offers two types of grants. Cash grants of up to $300 are available to help families pay regular monthly heating bills. The amount of the grant depends on income, household size, type of heating fuel and region of the state. Crisis grants of up to $300 are also available to pay for heating emergencies such as a broken furnace or fuel shortage.

            For more information, contact my office or the county assistance office at 412-565-2151 or 412-565-2146. The LIHEAP crisis line is 1-800-851-3838.

Action in Harrisburg

            In Harrisburg, I voted for two energy bills that passed the House recently. Both would help Pennsylvanians save money and increase our energy independence. One bill would create sales-tax holidays to save consumers money on buying new, more efficient ENERGY STAR-rated appliances like refrigerators and air conditioners. The other bill the House passed would remove the sales tax on energy-saving compact fluorescent light bulbs. There are many other bills pending in the Special Session on Energy, and I hope to have more progress to report in a future column.

Tips to save you energy and money

            Last but not least, here are some tips on how you can save energy and money now:

Heating Tips

*          Buy a programmable thermostat. A programmable thermostat can help by adjusting the temperature according to your schedule.

*          Clean or replace filters on furnaces once a month or as needed.

*          Heat only the rooms that you are using. Close the door and vents to unused rooms.

*          Cool it with the hot water: for every degree you turn your water heater down, you could save $4 a year. For most users, 115 degrees is comfortable.

*          Unless your water heater's storage tank already has a high R-value of insulation (at least R-24), adding insulation to it can reduce stand-by heat losses by 25 to 45 percent. This will save you around 4 to 9 percent in water heating costs. If you don't know your water heater tank's R-value, touch it. A tank that's warm to the touch usually needs additional insulation.

Weatherization Tips

*          Caulk and weatherstrip doors and windows that leak air.

*          Install storm windows and use a heavy-duty, clear plastic sheet on a frame or tape clear plastic film to the inside of your window frames during cold winter months to control temperature efficiency.

*          Look for holes in your roof and all heating pipes and vents.

More energy conservation information is available at www.staywarmpa.com or www.energypa.org.

If you have questions on energy or any other state-related issue or subject, please call my office at 412-321-5523.