October 13, 2005
By CONNIE MABIN

Posted on Wed, Oct. 12, 2005

States trying to prepare to help with sky-high heating bills

Associated Press

CLEVELAND - Willa Meriweather remembers all too well how cold her 85-year-old home used to get in the frigid Cleveland winters before a state-funded nonprofit organization helped her install insulation in the attic, fix the leaky roof and seal old windows.
To make ends meet, she had to skip some gas bills and pay every other month until they climbed as high as $473 and she couldn't afford double payments.
"I got one of those big, old houses with a teen suite and I couldn't use it in the wintertime. Now I can use it," said Meriweather, 60, a retired graphic artist whose multiple sclerosis keeps her in the house most days. "I just wish they'd give these people more money to do the things that they can do."
Leaders in nearly every state have the same wish. From Ohio to Iowa to Virginia and Wisconsin, governments are bracing for what some predict could be a crisis: more Americans unable to afford keeping the heat on as natural gas prices and oil fuel are expected double or more. The states are scraping up extra money for heating assistance programs, helping residents figure out how to conserve natural gas and calling on utility companies and the federal government to pitch in more.
"When heating costs are expected to rise by up to 50 percent this winter, it affects everyone's budget," said Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle. The state has more than doubled funding to $16 million for a program that weather proofs homes and businesses and helps low-income residents pay their bills.
Ohio Gov. Bob Taft last week ordered $75 million from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program added to the state's $100 million heating aid program, called HEAP. The additional money should allow more families to get an average of $430 in aid per household to help pay for heat.
Last year, 180,000 households that use natural gas heating received help from the income-based program. With the additional funding, income limits will be increased to 175 percent of the federal poverty level, or $33,863 for a family of four. The program also will offer advice to Ohioans about how to conserve fuel and make their homes more weather proof.
On Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Energy predicted that winter heating bills will be a third to a half higher than last year for most families across the country: an average of $350 more for natural gas users and $378 more for fuel oil users.
Virginia Gov. Mark R. Warner has asked social services agencies to develop a plan by Nov. 1 to deal with anticipated heating bill hikes and has pushed utility companies to do more to assist customers who may not be able to pay their bills. Utilities offer payment programs and help people determine the energy efficiency of their homes; some waive reconnect fees.
Iowa has put links offering help to residents on the governor's Web site, and Gov. Thomas Vilsack suggested people wear more clothing, turn back thermostats and change furnace filters monthly. Michigan and other states offered similar advice.
Vilsack joined Taft and 27 other governors in asking the federal government to provide $1.3 billion more for emergency energy assistance programs because not enough money is expected to go around for a predicted 20 percent increase in requests for help, or 1 million more applications.
There has been no immediate action from Congress on the request.
"This program is critical to the elderly, disabled and children of this state," Vilsack said.
Meriweather said she'd pack up the motorized scooter she uses to get around and go to Washington to back up the governors.
"I'm slightly worried about this winter, but thank God I don't think my bills will be as high as it was before," Meriweather said. "But there are going to be a whole lot of people without heat this winter. You're going to find a lot of people frozen to death. Maybe when somebody dies, that's when they'll do something. Oh Lord."

ON THE NET

Ohio Department of Development:

http://www.odod.state.oh.us/cdd/ocs/heap.htm

Cleveland Housing Network: http://www.chnnet.com