Governor Paterson Launches Statewide Campaign To Assist Vulnerable New Yorkers With Rising Heating Costs

HeatSmartNY, New Statewide Public Education Outreach Campaign will Include Website, Hotline, Workshops and Public Service Announcements

$3.5 Million Awarded by Division of Housing and Community Renewal to Fund Energy Efficiency Improvements for Homes Across New York

Governor David A. Paterson today launched a new statewide, multi-agency public information education campaign called HeatSmartNY, to provide New Yorkers facing skyrocketing home heating costs with the tools and assistance they need to get through this coming winter. Eight New York State agencies and authorities have collaborated to address this vital issue and bring relief to New York's most at-risk residents.

At Lifelong Senior Center in Ithaca, Tompkins County, Governor Paterson was joined by Congressman Maurice Hinchey, State Senator George Winner and Assemblywoman Barbara Lifton in unveiling the new campaign, which will include a website (www.HeatSmartNY.org), a hotline number (877-NY-SMART), public service announcements and a series of 630 statewide workshops to provide consumers with easy, do-it-yourself tips to lower heating bills, as well as information about New York's heating-related programs.

"While we remain focused on reducing spending to address the economic downturn, we must at the same time be mindful that for many New York families, this is going to be an especially harsh and difficult winter," said Governor Paterson. "New Yorkers should not be endangered by falling temperatures and rising heating costs. That is why I have directed these agencies to implement collaborative and coordinated outreach and ensure that New Yorkers have as much information as possible about heating-related programs and ways to reduce home heating costs."

Additionally, Governor Paterson announced the award of $3.5 million in federal grants to low-income New Yorkers for the installation of energy efficiency measures in 1,205 homes. The grants, awarded by the Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR), will enable weatherization agencies across New York to address unmet energy efficiency needs in their communities. A complete list of awards can be found at www.nysdhcr.gov.

State Senator George Winner said: "I can't say enough about this comprehensive effort by Governor Paterson to focus New York government's attention on home heating costs. It's timely, it's urgent, and it's going to be a true lifeline for many senior citizens and families locally and across the State."

Assemblywoman Barbara Lifton said: "Collaboration between these eight agencies to ensure New Yorkers receive the information and assistance they need about help with heating costs is a good first step towards protecting the most vulnerable among us from the dangers of a cold winter. My colleagues and I in the Assembly have consistently fought to provide affordable heating options to those who need it."

The agencies participating in the outreach effort include: the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), the Public Service Commission (PSC), the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA), the New York Power Authorities (NYPA), the Consumer Protection Board (CPB), the Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR), the Office for the Aging (OFA), and the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA).

New York State has worked on number of fronts to improve energy efficiency and provide additional assistance to help lower energy bills this winter, including:

• The income eligibility levels for New York's Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) have been increased to reflect increases in the State's median income level. A family of four earning as much as $45,312 annually may qualify for HEAP in 2008-09;
• An increase in HEAP's regular and emergency benefits to $800 for delivered fuel customers, to enable them to purchase a minimum delivery of fuel given price increases, and raising the maximum regular benefit to $585 for all other customers;
• Waiving HEAP's face-to-face application requirement for most applicants for emergency benefits;
• An emergency utility summit held by the DPS to discuss utility budget billing programs, community outreach efforts and other options for making bill payment easier, and consider enhancements to termination policies to reduce the likelihood of service disruptions during cold weather months;
• A $32 million increase in the amount of low-income funding, approved by the PSC and provided by local utility companies and NYSERDA, to improve the energy efficiency of homes. NYSERDA will also spend an additional $2 million this winter to help more New Yorkers reduce their energy use while also keeping their homes heated;
• $18.8 million for energy efficiency in the Con Edison and National Grid gas service territories; this funding, approved by the PSC, will provide efficiency services that will help to reduce natural gas bills for New York families, particularly low-income households, this winter;
• A $5 million "Weatherization Blitz" offered by NYPA to customers served by municipal electric systems throughout Upstate New York. NYPA will distribute "do-it-yourself" kits and energy savings tip sheets to residents through these utilities that could result in energy savings in the upcoming months; and
• $10 million made available by the LIPA to its low-income senior customers for direct bill payment assistance. In addition, LIPA will be expanding its support for improved energy efficiency in homes for all of its customers.

Governor Paterson also thanked New York's Congressional delegation for its assistance in securing $476 million in Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funds for New York to enable New York's HEAP program to deal with what is expected to be a winter with significantly increased demand for aid for home heating bills for low-income families, senior citizens and the disabled. The federal government's action will significantly boost efforts to provide relief to cash-strapped New Yorkers unsure about how they will pay to heat their homes this winter.

For more information on New York's programs to address home heating costs and improve energy efficiency visit the new website at www.HeatSmartNY.org, call 1-877-NY-SMART or attend one of New York's statewide educational workshops. A complete schedule of workshops, with dates and locations, is available on the HeatSmartNY website.

The following statements were provided in support of HeatSmartNY:

Garry Brown, Chairman of the PSC, said: "The Public Service Commission is working closely with utilities, advocacy groups, and State agencies to mitigate the impact of utility bills on low-income customers. As part of this effort, the Commission has approved programs for low-income assistance and energy affordability for low-income households totaling $70 million, annually. To better prepare for this winter's cold temperatures and rising energy costs, we strongly encourage consumers to visit the HeatSmartNY website and attend a HeatSmartNY workshop to learn first-hand how to effectively manage energy bills this winter."

Bob Callender, Vice President for Programs at NYSERDA, said: "This collaborative effort is a tremendous step toward making efficiency and assistance programs more accessible to all New Yorkers. NYSERDA is proud to be part of the Governor's HeatSmartNY effort and to be taking a leadership role in providing programs and assistance to make New York more energy efficient."

Deborah VanAmerongen, DHCR Commissioner, said: "Every year, DHCR's weatherization assistance program helps thousands of New York households lower their heating bills by making their homes more weather-tight and energy efficient. Governor Paterson's new initiative will help DHCR and other State agencies reach out to and help tens of thousands of additional low-income New Yorkers who desperately need our help."

Michael J. Burgess, Director of OFA, said: "Right now, energy and heating costs are the top concern of many older New Yorkers, and the coordinated outreach efforts are important in trying to help provide options for financial assistance, weatherization, and conservation."

Mindy Bockstein, Chairperson and Executive Director of CPB, said: "Record high home energy prices are placing a tremendous strain on the bank accounts and wallets of many New York consumers. The Governor's efforts to combine agency resources to help more people gain access to information and assistance will prove invaluable to the millions of consumers who are having difficulty managing costs and who are worried about the prospect of having their heat cut off because they are behind in payments. The CPB continues to save consumers money by representing their needs before federal and state governing bodies and last year, and working together with other agencies, saved more than $1.1 billion in avoided utility costs."

David A. Hansell, OTDA Commissioner, said: "While this winter will prove difficult for all New Yorkers, the most vulnerable residents of our State are faced with even greater challenges in heating their homes. Through this effort, Governor Paterson is making it easier than ever for low-income families and senior citizens to access the information and benefits they need to get through this challenging winter season."