PSEG Long Island provides financial assistance for customers who qualify

(UNIONDALE, N.Y. – April 30, 2020)  During these times of hardship, PSEG Long Island reminds its customers that financial assistance and payment programs are available to households that meet certain income guidelines and other eligibility requirements.

Both federally funded and company-supported programs can help eligible customers offset heating/cooling and utility costs. PSEG Long Island also offers free tools that any customer can use to assess and reduce energy consumption.

Registration for the federally funded Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) is open through June 30, 2020. The federally-funded HEAP assists financially constrained New Yorkers with the cost of heating homes in the winter months. Qualifications for HEAP benefits are based on household income, household size and primary heating source. In addition, beginning Jan. 2, 2020, customers facing heat or heat-related energy emergencies can apply for additional benefits if they qualify.

Beginning April 24, 2020, a third emergency HEAP benefit is available for customers who are experiencing financial difficulties, have received a final termination notice on their bill, and who meet the income guideline qualifications. This emergency HEAP benefit is available through June 30, 2020.

Another program to help customers who are struggling with heating costs is the United Way’s United Together: A Response Fund to COVID-19. This fund opened on April 3, 2020, to assist low income wage earners who were either (1) laid off or (2) furloughed from their jobs specifically due to the COVID-19 situation. Assistance will be in the form of a retail gift card.

PSEG Long Island also offers its own financial assistance programs, including the Household Assistance Program and the Residential Energy Affordability Partnership (REAP), which are available year-round. The Household Assistance Program provides a credit on electric bills for customers who receive benefits from a federally funded program such as HEAP, Medicaid, SNAP, TA, SSI or SNA. Customers may be eligible to receive a monthly credit of $25 or more on energy bills.

REAP helps customers who meet certain income guidelines lower energy costs by finding household energy-saving opportunities. A REAP technician conducts a free home energy assessment and provides the customer with ways to reduce energy consumption, such as using LED light bulbs. If the customer is eligible, the technician may also replace inefficient appliances with ENERGY STAR® models, at no cost to the customer. This program has suspended the “in home” visits during the COVID-19 crisis; however applications are being accepted to schedule visits when restrictions are lifted.

Additional PSEG Long Island programs that help all customers save money include:

• Home Energy Analyzer – a do-it-yourself online tool that uses a simulation model to validate how energy is used in the home.
• My Energy Profile – an online suite of easy-to-use tools that can help a customer understand energy usage and how to conserve it. With this tool, customers can track energy efficiency efforts over time and see comparisons to similar homes in the area.
• Energy Efficiency Rebates – PSEG Long Island offers rebates on products including LED light bulbs, advanced power strips and major appliances such as refrigerators, dryers and heat pump water heaters.

For more information on PSEG Long Island financial assistance programs, visit https://www.psegliny.com/myaccount/customersupport/financialassistance. For more information on HEAP and federal programs, visit https://otda.ny.gov/programs/heap/
For more information on energy and money saving programs and tips, visit https://www.psegliny.com/efficiency.

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PSEG Long Island
PSEG Long Island operates the Long Island Power Authority’s transmission and distribution system under a long-term contract. PSEG Long Island is a subsidiary of Public Service Enterprise Group Inc. (PSEG) (NYSE:PEG), a publicly traded diversified energy company.