04-24-2008
- Winter Protection Ends May 1
NEWS RELEASE
April 23, 2008
Media Contact: Al Carbone (203) 499-2247
After Hours: (203) 499-2812
Winter Protection Program Ends May 1
Customers urged to make payment arrangements
New Haven, Conn. – The United Illuminating Company reminds customers that the Winter Protection Program for 2007-2008 will come to a close on Thursday, May 1. Participants with an outstanding balance must call UI at 1-800-442-5004 as soon as possible to make payment arrangements.
"UI tries very hard to meet the needs of its hardship customers by offering several payment programs after the Moratorium Period ends on May 1," explains Joseph Thomas, UI’s Vice-President – Client Fulfillment. "We attempt to work closely with each customer well in advance so we can avoid shutting off their electricity for non-payment."
The Winter Protection Program is one of several programs UI offers hardship customers. Residential customers covered by the Winter Protection Program and who heat by electricity may qualify for UI’s Forgiveness Program. If eligible, customers work with UI to develop a monthly budget agreement. If the customer keeps that agreement, UI will match payments to reduce the customer’s back balance. Please call 1-800-442-5004 for more information.
UI’s Matching Payment Program (MaPP) helps low-income customers maintain year-round service and pay down delinquent balances by company-matched dollars. A payment arrangement plan helps qualified hardship customers pay past due electric bills. Under MaPP, if payments are current, a past due balance can be "forgiven" over time. Please call 1-800-442-5004 for more information.
In addition, the company offers UI Helps, a program that helps eligible customers through the provision of energy-saving measures, educational materials and a "walk-through" assessment of the home. For more information, call 1-877-WISE USE (947-3823).
UI Helps is one of the many programs offered through the Connecticut Energy Efficiency Fund (CEEF). The CEEF promotes efficient energy use, helps residents and businesses save on their electric bills, advances economic development, reduces electric demand and helps reduce air pollution. UI administers the CEEF through conservation programs that serve residential customers, including low- and fixed-income customers, as well as business and municipal customers. Connecticut’s energy-efficiency programs are funded by the conservation charge on customers' electric bills. Additional information on Connecticut's energy-efficiency programs can be found at www.ctenergyinfo.com. 2
UI also works year-round with social service providers and agencies to educate customers on the programs available in the cities and towns they serve, including energy assistance through the Connecticut Energy Assistance Program (CEAP). CEAP provides financial assistance to help Connecticut residents pay their heating bills. As an example, a household with an income below 150 percent of the federal poverty level guidelines ($29,025 for a family of four) would qualify for CEAP. Households with elderly or disabled members qualify for CEAP with incomes at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level ($38,700 for a family of four). The deadline to apply for energy assistance is Wednesday, April 30. Customers should call 2-1-1 Infoline immediately for local agency information regarding where they can apply for energy assistance.
"UI encourages customers with financial challenges to apply for energy assistance which can reduce what they need to pay toward their energy bills," added Thomas. "UI also offers a variety of programs, such as the Forgiveness and MaPP programs, that help reduce customers’ energy burdens year-round."
The United Illuminating Company (UI) is a New Haven-based regional distribution utility established in 1899. UI is engaged in the purchase, transmission, distribution and sale of electricity and related services to more than 320,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in the Greater New Haven and Bridgeport areas. UI’s World Wide Web address is http://www.uinet.com/. UI’s parent company, UIL Holdings Corporation, is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol UIL. |
