GEORGIA UTILITY RATE ASSISTANCE

• In 1987 the PSC mandated that major gas and electric utilities waive their monthly service charge for customers age 65 or over, who own their homes, and earn less than $10,000 per year (the income limit was raised to $12,000 in 2001). The gas service charge is $10.50 per month; the electric is $7.00. In 2002, about 55,000 customers received the electric waiver and about 34,000 received the gas waiver for a total annual cost of over $11 million.

• Atlanta Gas Light (AGL) provided natural gas reconnection waivers of $50 to all LIHEAP approved customers during the FFY02 program. A $50 cash credit was applied to the natural gas accounts of all low-income senior customers for a 5-month period during the first two quarters of FFY02.

   

LEVERAGING

2002: $760,850