Heating tips and help

The winter heating season is here. There is help available to pay bills, advice for winterizing and information on what to do when faced with a utility cutoff notice.

Winterizing. The Missouri Public Service Commission has joined with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources to provide tips on making homes more energy-efficient. Among their recommendations:

• Have the furnace checked and tuned up if needed.
• Replace filters monthly or more often if dirty.
• Add attic insulation.
• Place weather stripping around doors, use plastic film and caulking around windows.
• Check the chimney for blockage.
• Close fireplace dampers when not in use.
• Set water heater temperature to 120 degrees.
• Find out more at www.beenergyefficient.org.

Help paying bills. State and federal money is available through the East Missouri Action Agency to help restore service that has already been cut off, to prevent a cut off or just to help pay ahead on utility bills. Among the services are:

• Energy Assistance/Regular Heating is a program that provides a one-time payment to the energy supplier. The amount provided is based on the fuel used. The income limit is 135 percent of poverty, or $2,208 a month for a family of four. The income level is adjusted for credits for working people and for people who make child support payments.
• Energy Crisis Assistance: For people facing a utility cut off, this program provides up to $800 to stop a service suspension or to restore service. The actual amount will be based on the minimum payment needed to restore service.
• Find out more at www.eastmoaa.org.

Cold weather rule: The PSC has established rules to prevent utilities from cutting off service during cold weather. The rules apply from Nov. 1 to March 31 and only to utilities regulated by the PSC. They do not apply to municipal utilities or electric cooperatives, although many comply voluntarily. Some of the basics:

• Service may not be cut off when the temperature is below 32 degrees or is forecast to fall below 32 degrees within 24 hours.
• The utility company must mail a notice 10 days before it intends to cut off service, attempt to make contact within 96 hours of the cut off, attempt to make contact in person immediately before the shut off and leave notice when a shut off has occurred.
• Utilities must offer an opportunity to pay under a budget plan and allow payment of past due amounts over time, including over a period longer than 12 months if necessary.
• Customers breaking payment agreements must be given the opportunity to make a partial payment to retain service. For gas customers, the partial payment is 50 percent of the amount due, or $500, whichever is less. For other energy sources, the partial payment can be up to 80 percent.
• Customers older than 65 or who are disabled may register with the utility and may not be cut off during the period covered by the cold weather rule.
• Find out more at www.psc.mo.gov.