With the Farmers’ Almanac predicting “the coldest winter we’ve seen for quite a few years” and energy prices high, local heating assistance programs are preparing for even more clients than last year. But they say that so far, they are in good shape.
“We probably have enough money for 28,000 households this year,” said Matteo Guglielmetti, program manager for the R.I. Office of Energy Resources’ Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. “It’s a matter of when we close [the program], and in past years we’ve always had the fear that we would close in January. But this year, I’m expecting we’ll be able to serve everyone who applies at least until March.”
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That is in large part due to the fact that last year, LIHEAP, which is federally funded, received more than $21.5 million in funding. It was able to hold onto some of that for this year, Guglielmetti said, and is expecting to receive another $13 million.
But there is still concern, he said, because the number of clients is expected to go up.
“The need is growing each year,” he said. “With the prices rising, especially with the gas, more and more people are getting further and further into debt.”
At the Blackstone Valley Community Action Program in Pawtucket, where people go to apply for LIHEAP grants, emergency services coordinator Jennifer Daugherty said she is already seeing a surge in clients.
To qualify, a person must make 60 percent or less of the state’s median income. For a family of three, the cutoff is $35,834 per year. Those who make more than that are referred to the Good Neighbor Energy Fund, run by the Salvation Army.
“Every year, the amount of applicants goes up,” Daugherty said. “We are already 1,000 applications ahead of last year at this time.”
Of the 4,238 clients who have applied so far, 789 are new to the program, she said.
Joe DeSantis, executive director of Tri-Town Community Action Program in Johnston, said that so far, applications to his agency are only up slightly, but he too believes that this year, the need will be greater. He said people often apply late in the year, so the 2,056 applications Tri-Town has received so far are not reflective of the total that will come in.
Last year, the agency had 2,053 applications as of Dec. 8 but ended up serving 2,658 clients by the end of the winter, DeSantis said.
“It grew last year and I would anticipate it would grow this year,” he said. “But it really depends on how cold it is during the winter and how high the prices are.”
The Energy Information Administration, a federal agency that tracks energy statistics, is predicting that in the Northeast, the price of natural gas will drop 14.8 percent from last year’s; heating oil will cost about the same; propane prices will drop 2.5 percent; and electricity rates will go up by 5.6 percent.
But usage is expected to go up in every category, offsetting any price drops, the EIA said. The only type of heating that is expected to actually cost less in the Northeast this winter is natural gas, with an 8.9-percent projected drop.
Guglielmetti said higher fuel costs make it difficult for LIHEAP to meet clients’ needs, even when they do receive a grant. Last year, the average grant given in Rhode Island was $375 per household, while the average heating cost per household in the United States was $947.
“I’m not sure if the assistance we’re able to give does meet the need. Just because you’re giving assistance doesn’t mean that is enough,” he said. “We’re able to assist people, but the whole key is, how effective is the assistance, given the cost of utilities and oil?”
Guglielmetti said he hopes legislation being introduced this year will help.
The measure would require that each gas and electric distribution company submit a plan that would include, in part, implementing an affordable energy fund, discounting distribution rates and customer charges, and setting up forgiveness-of-balance plans for low-income customers.
