[BCN] FW: Three Big Energy Savings for Low Income Consumers

[matt at bostoncoop.net]

If this is useful to anyone, or if you want to pass it on!


-----Original Message-----
	From: Jill Kimmel
	Sent: Wed 5/17/2006 12:52 PM
	To: CCAA
	Cc:
	Subject: Three Big Energy Savings for Low Income Consumers



You may be interested in three wonderful victories for low income
consumers secured just recently, worth in the aggregate over $40 million
this year.



1. The State's gas and electric utilities have all adopted arrearage
forgiveness plans for low income household worth $10 million each year.
Recent legislation (actually written by the National Consumer Law Center)
required the investor-owned utilities to adopt "arrearage management
plans" which allow certain low income households with back bills to have
the arrearages written down by making timely future payments. While the
plans vary significantly from utility to utility, in each case the utility
companies approached the National Consumer Law Center for help in
designing the forgiveness programs. Final DTE (Department of
Telecommunications and Energy) approval was quick in coming. ALL OF THE
PROGRAMS BEGAN MAY 1st.



	The programs are best-suited for low income utility consumers in need of
assistance with back bills, but who have a reasonable chance - by virtue
of consistent monthly income and access to reliable sources of assistance
- of remaining current on future bills. CONSUMERS INTERESTED IN INQUIRING
ABOUT LOCAL PROGRAM OFFERINGS SHOULD CONTACT THEIR COMMUNITY ACTION
AGENCY.



	2. Low income customers of Verizon will be spared late charge fees. On
March 28th, the National Consumer Law Center submitted comments to DTE
strongly protesting Verizon's proposal to adopt late charge fees for
residential phone bills because the proposal would apply to low icome
households. On May 1st, Verizon withdrew its proposal to impose late fees
on all residential customers and refiled a proposal which exempts
low-income Lifeline customers from the late charges. TO GET ON LIFELINE,
CONSUMERS SHOULD CONTACT VERIZON DIRECTLY. Unfortunately, Verizon does
not make Lifeline real easy to get; that is our next challenge.



	3. On behalf of low income Massachusetts clients, the National Consumer
Law Center (and others) urged Congress to release additional Low Income
Home Energy Assitance Plan funds (fuel assistance) to the State. The
Center and its local allies successfully urged the Massachusetts
Department of Housing and Community Development to adopt a plan to
increase household benefits immediately by $200. The total new funds
distributed in Massachusetts will soon be $30 million.



	Willard P. Ogburn, Executive Director, National Consumer Law Center 77
Summer Street Boston, MA 02110 617-542-8010 WOgburn at nclc.org




-- 
“It [is] the proudest of all privileges to fight for freedom, to fight,
not in despondency, but in great joy, hoping for the victory in our day,
but fighting on whether victory seem far or near.”

-Padraig Pearse (Irish freedom-fighter)