COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA PENNSYLVANIA PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION P.O. BOX 3265, HARRISBURG, PA 17105-3265
PRESS RELEASE Date: November 18, 2004 Contact: Tom Charles, Manager of Communications (717) 787-9504 or [email protected]
Jill D. Helsel, Information Specialist (717) 787-4970 or [email protected]
PA’s Most Famous ‘Weatherman,’ Punxsutawney Phil, and Public Utility Commissioners Urge Consumers to ‘Prepare Now’ for Winter
HARRISBURG -- The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today welcomed a special visitor, groundhog Punxsutawney Phil, to help urge Pennsylvanians to prepare now for the winter by weatherizing their homes, conserving energy, and learning about private and public programs to help them cope with colder weather and pay their utility bills.
“Why bring Punxsutawney Phil to the Commission? If Phil sees his shadow, it means six more weeks of winter. Which means that we all need to prepare for six more weeks of winter,” said PUC Chairman Wendell F. Holland. “While we may not know what to expect from this winter’s weather, we do know the steps consumers can take to prepare now for colder weather. That is the reason why we are here today.”
Joining Punxsutawney Phil and Chairman Holland were Vice Chairman Robert K. Bloom, Commissioners Glen R. Thomas and Kim Pizzingrilli, Punxsutawney Phil’s Inner Circle President Bill Cooper, and second-graders from Mountain View Elementary School in the Central Dauphin School District. This educational program is in keeping with the Commission's focus on rates, reliability and choice, so it can protect the public interest and increase economic development.
Commissioner Kim Pizzingrilli said, “There are programs to help Pennsylvanians -- particularly senior citizens and low-income consumers -- cope with winter:
“Contact your natural gas or electric company to learn about local programs to help pay your utility bills; “Each natural gas or electric company in Pennsylvania has established a Customer Assistance Program (CAP) and a Low-Income Usage Reduction Program (LIURP). LIURP, for example, helps energy usage by providing consumers with traditional weatherization measures and energy efficient appliances if possible; “The state Weatherization Program is the country’s longest running and most successful energy efficiency program. The program helps low-income families to permanently reduce their energy bills by making their homes more energy efficient; and -more- Page 2
“The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program or LIHEAP is a federally funded program that helps senior citizens and other low-income households with their home energy costs. For more information on the LIHEAP program, contact local County Assistance Offices or the Pennsylvania LIHEAP Hotline at 1-866- 857-7095.”
For more information on any of these programs and for a comprehensive list of energy conservation tips, contact your local natural gas company or visit the Council for Utility Choice’s Web site at www.utilitychoice.org.
“It is easy and very important to use only the amount of energy you need to heat and light your home, and to make sure your home keeps the heat inside,” Commissioner Glen R. Thomas said.
Some useful tips for conserving energy and weatherizing include: Lowering the thermostat a few degrees, if health permits; Cleaning furnaces for greater energy efficiency; Closing blinds and drapes to keep cold air out and open them during the daylight to let warm sun in; Covering windows with insulating shades or plastic to cut down heat transfer from inside to outside; and Placing nonflammable insulation or pliable materials in gaps around pipes, ducts, fans or other items that enter the attic or basement from a contained space.
Punxsutawney Phil is partnering this fall with $1 Energy Fund and Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania to encourage customers to apply for heating assistance grants and to raise awareness of $1 Energy Fund's programs. The $1 Energy Fund helps seniors and low-income customers to pay their utility bills. Over the past 20 years, $1 Energy Fund has helped more than 171,000 low-income utility customers stay warm throughout the winter and cool during summer's heat. For more information on how to apply for grants or to learn more about the $1 Energy Fund, log on to www.dollarenergy.org.
The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission ensures safe, reliable and reasonably priced electric, natural gas, water, telephone and transportation service for Pennsylvania consumers, by regulating public utilities and by serving as stewards of competition.
For recent news releases, or more information about the PUC, visit our Internet homepage at www.puc.state.pa.us.
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