Georgia Commission Approves
$6 Million Grant
for Low-Income Natural Gas Assistance
The Georgia Public Service
Commission (Commission) approved the disbursement of $6 million
to the Department of Human Resources (DHR) to provide grants to
assist low-income senior citizens and other low-income citizens
in the payment of natural gas heating bills during this winter heating
season.
Commissioner David Burgess,
who sponsored the proposal, said, "There is a continuing need
for this assistance as the cold weather approaches in order to help
pay natural gas bills. Since the beginning of November, 19,000 households
have contacted DHR requesting assistance".
Three million dollars
of the disbursement would be targeted for low-income seniors (65
years and older) while the remainder would be used for other low-income
consumers. Applicants must be qualified through the federal Low
Income Heat Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), administered by
DHR, in order to receive the funds. The monies will be disbursed
from the Universal Service Fund (USF), a trust fund administered
by the Commission to be used primarily to provide assistance to
low-income citizens in paying their natural gas heating bills.
The Commission has provided
a total of $9 million dollars this year to federal LIHEAP funding
to further assist Georgia residents.
Page Last Updated: December 7, 2005
