Utilities Offer Winter Protection Plans: Don’t Be Cold At Home This Winter

BERLIN — The Connecticut Light and Power Company (CL&P) and Yankee Gas Services Company offer programs to assist customers who may have difficulty paying their electric and natural gas bills this winter, or who want to spread their energy costs over a year.

CL&P and Yankee Gas offer Winter Protection Programs that protect hardship customers from electric service shut-offs or natural gas shut-offs for nonpayment from November 1 to April 15. To qualify, a customer’s total household income will be considered. Additional criteria that may also qualify a customer for Winter Protection can include aid to the blind, elderly, and disabled (SSI), or a serious or life-threatening illness in the household.

Customers still receive their bills and should try to pay what they can each month to avoid a larger balance due when the protection period ends.

The Matching Payment Program, another option, allows low-income customers with past-due balances to work out monthly payment arrangements so their service is provided year-round. Customers must heat with electricity to qualify for the CL&P Matching Payment Program or heat with natural gas to qualify for the Yankee Gas Matching Payment Program.

In addition, a customer’s total household income will be considered; customers must apply and qualify for energy assistance funds and must make and keep a monthly payment arrangement. CL&P and Yankee Gas customers who maintain eligibility under the Matching Payment Program will see an additional reduction in their past-due amount for every dollar paid. Customers who successfully complete the program will also receive a match on their energy assistance reward, up to a zero balance.

CL&P customers who want more information about the Winter Protection and Matching Payment programs are encouraged to call 800-286-2828. Yankee Gas customers should call 800-438-2278.

CL&P and Yankee Gas also have WRAP (Weatherization Residential Assistance Partnership) programs to assist low-income customers (renters or owners) by making their homes more energy-efficient, while promoting energy conservation. Through this program, customers can lower their energy use, conserve hot water, reduce heat loss, and switch to energy-efficient lighting.

For more information, or to obtain a WRAP application, call 800-388-9727.

CL&P and Yankee Gas both offer a Budget Payment Program that lets customers pay the same amount each month. Based on energy usage history, an average monthly bill is calculated and customers receive 11 equal monthly bills. In the twelfth month, customers are billed the regular budget payment — plus any balance due, or less any credit owed, based on actual usage.

To sign up for CL&P’s budget payment program, call 800-286-6325 or visit wwl.cl-p.com To sign up for the Yankee Gas budget payment program, call 800-989-0900 or visit www.yankeegas.com.

The Nustart Program helps low-income CL&P customers maintain year-round electric service. Customers can reduce and eliminate past-due balances if they pay their monthly budget amount on time, each month. To learn more about this program, call 800-286-5844

Low-income customers may also qualify for state administered programs, including the Connecticut Energy Assistance Program (CEAP) or the Contingency Heating Assistance Program (CHAP). There are also programs such as Operation Fuel that assist customers who are not eligible for state or federal assistance. Call Infoline 211 to learn more about these.

CL&P and Yankee Gas have established strong relationships with the social service community in order to ensure that low-income customers are effectively served. Social Agency Forums on Energy will be held on Thursday, October 26, in Waterbury.