Federal shutdown delays applications for heating aid; 70,000 Long Islanders received $19M last year

As temperatures dip, Long Islanders who rely on assistance programs to help them meet rising costs to heat their homes are finding one critical federal source frozen out: the Home Energy Assistance Program.

The federal shutdown has put on hold the annual funding for HEAP, delaying indefinitely the ability of those most in need to apply for and receive bill assistance to heat their homes. Sign-ups for the program normally takes place Nov. 3. Last year, about 70,000 Long Islanders received $19 million from the program

New York State received $287 million last year to fund HEAP, and the average benefit was just under $1,000 per home per season, the state said. The funding is aimed at the young, the elderly and those with low or moderate incomes.

Last week, the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance notified social services agencies across the state that applications for the program were being delayed "until further notice," the agency said. The state isn't able to provide heating assistance "until mid-November at the earliest," a spokeswoman said. 

PSEG in a statement said delays in HEAP applications "will impact many Long Islanders during a time when they may need assistance the most." The utility will hold community information sessions at three locations across the service territory starting next week to offer help.

The community sessions, in Nassau, Suffolk and the Rockaways, will provide information for customers who "may need assistance in obtaining benefits with the local Department of Social service agencies, local food banks, and their utility companies." A spokesman for Suffolk County didn’t return a call seeking comment.

New York State has been urging federal officials and lawmakers to find a way to assure the HEAP program opens on Nov. 3, as it normally does.

Last year, more than 1.5 million New Yorkers received assistance from the HEAP program, according to a statement from Gov. Kathy Hochul, who said, "hundreds of thousands of vulnerable New Yorkers are about to be left in the cold." She blamed "Washington Republicans" for the shutdown.

Sen. Chuck Schumer in a release charged that "[President Donald] Trump has long had his sights on killing this vital federal heating assistance program millions of New Yorkers rely on every winter," noting the firing of program staff earlier this year and "then calling for its total elimination in the upcoming budget." 

White House spokesman Taylor Rogers took exception to Hochul and Schumer’s claims, saying in an email that it’s “Kathy Hochul’s own party — the Democrats — that continue to hold Americans hostage by voting NO to reopen the government ... We encourage Gov. Hochul to join her constituents who have called on Senate Democrats to pass the clean continuing resolution.”

Public advocacy groups are calling for an end to the impasse and stopgap funding to address the immediate need. Senior-focused AARP and the Public Utility Law Project, a ratepayer watchdog group, in a joint release recently noted that 1.2 million homes across New York are already 60 days behind in paying their energy bills, with some 1,800 households facing shutoffs of service each day.

On Long Island, 48,161 National Grid gas customers were 60 days or more behind in paying their bills as of September, owing more than $46.5 million. For PSEG, the figure is 108,739 customers with 60-plus days in arrears, owing more than $71.7 million, according to state figures provided by PULP.

In a state filing with the Public Service Commission, PULP urged the PSC to "direct a one-time allocation of $50 million from the Clean Energy Standard Renewable Energy Standard surplus funds toward direct bill relief for low-income customers enrolled in the Energy Affordability Program." A spokesman for Hochul didn’t say whether the governor would approve the one-time payment.

PSC spokesman James Denn said the commission is “very concerned about the potential loss of HEAP funding.” He said the commission is “reviewing the request made by PULP. No decision has been made.”

Bill Ferris, New York legislative representative for AARP, said in an email that Hochul “needs to act. New York is the middle of an alarming energy affordability crisis. The governor’s leadership is urgently needed right now and in a big way to protect struggling families across the state.”

Customers seeking help can get a level of assistance from available programs from local governments and utilities. They can receive a "One-Shot Deal" emergency energy assistance payment to help with prior unpaid bills by contacting their local Department of Social Services office. There are also Energy Affordability Programs that offer discounts on monthly bills, available through gas and electric utility companies.

National Grid, the regional natural gas utility, in an email said it has been in communication with customers to alert them to programs and services to manage energy bills, reduce usage and access financial help. More information is at ngrid.com/heretohelp.

The utility is temporarily placing on hold and will not shut off service to federal employees, contractors and active military members impacted by the shutdown, said spokeswoman Wendy Frigeria, “regardless of current status or payment agreements.”

Those eligible can fill out an application online at ngrid.com/hereforyou, or call 1-800-233-5325. Information for affected customers is available at ngrid.com/hereforyou.

PSEG said those who have previously received HEAP can apply for its Energy Assistance Program for bill discounts lasting 18 months. They can apply online at www.psegliny.com/assistance. They can also call a PSEG consumer advocate at 631-755-3407, or write to Consumeradvocacyli@psegliny.com.

In a statement, Brigitte Wynn, PSEG Long Island’s director of revenue operations, noted the "economic uncertainty" faced by Long Island customers and said those struggling to keep up with their bills also can enroll in a deferred payment plan, among other things. "We’re here to help," she said in the statement.

The utility offers a separate program called the Residential Energy Affordability Partnership Program for which a utility technician will visit homes to conduct free home-energy surveys and install energy-saving devices for those who are income-eligible. More information is at psegliny.com/REAP.

PSEG’s information sessions starting next week can be attended on:

• Nov. 3, 1-5:30 p.m., Stop and Shop Parking Lot, 999 Montauk Highway, Shirley.
• Nov. 6, 1-5:30 p.m., UBS Arena, 2400 Hempstead Turnpike, Elmont.
• Nov. 13, 1-5:30 p.m., Key Food Parking Lot, 20-20 New Haven Blvd., Far Rockaway.

By Mark Harrington

mark.harrington@newsday.comMHarringtonNews

Mark Harrington, a Newsday reporter since 1999, covers energy, wineries, Indian affairs and fisheries.