Pennsylvanians Who Are Struggling to Pay PECO Bills May Qualify for Up to $750 in Assistance
In an effort to help customers who are behind on their energy bills, PECO has expanded its Customer Relief Fund. The program, which is funded by a $10 million grant from Exelon and the United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey, has increased the amount of financial assistance it offers from $500 to $750 per customer.
To be eligible for this expanded program, households must have overdue energy bills totaling no more than $2,500. The annual income level for these households is also limited to between 151% and 300% of the federal poverty level. This translates to an income range of approximately $48,547 for a family of four.
Customers who are struggling to bring their balance down below $2,500 can still apply for the expanded program. The application window remains open until December 31, or when all available funds are exhausted.
"We've expanded the PECO Customer Relief Fund to provide greater support because we know energy supply costs continue to impact household budgets," said PECO President and CEO David Vahos in a statement. "This enhanced assistance provides relief while we work alongside state and local officials to address the broader challenges driving energy affordability."
The program aims to help low-to-moderate income households that may not qualify for other forms of assistance. Pennsylvania Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis has emphasized that this program is crucial for families who are working hard but struggling to make ends meet.
The expansion of the PECO Customer Relief Fund comes as electricity suppliers in Pennsylvania continue to raise their rates. In June, PECO increased its rates by 12.6%, leading to a significant hike in the average customer's monthly bill. The main driver behind these rising energy costs is growing demand on the electricity grid, particularly from data centers.
The PJM Interconnection, the regional transmission organization that covers Pennsylvania and 12 other states, has faced criticism for its role in increasing energy costs and sluggish shifts to renewable energy sources. Governor Josh Shapiro has threatened to remove Pennsylvania from PJM if it does not address its rising costs.
In an effort to help customers who are behind on their energy bills, PECO has expanded its Customer Relief Fund. The program, which is funded by a $10 million grant from Exelon and the United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey, has increased the amount of financial assistance it offers from $500 to $750 per customer.
To be eligible for this expanded program, households must have overdue energy bills totaling no more than $2,500. The annual income level for these households is also limited to between 151% and 300% of the federal poverty level. This translates to an income range of approximately $48,547 for a family of four.
Customers who are struggling to bring their balance down below $2,500 can still apply for the expanded program. The application window remains open until December 31, or when all available funds are exhausted.
"We've expanded the PECO Customer Relief Fund to provide greater support because we know energy supply costs continue to impact household budgets," said PECO President and CEO David Vahos in a statement. "This enhanced assistance provides relief while we work alongside state and local officials to address the broader challenges driving energy affordability."
The program aims to help low-to-moderate income households that may not qualify for other forms of assistance. Pennsylvania Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis has emphasized that this program is crucial for families who are working hard but struggling to make ends meet.
The expansion of the PECO Customer Relief Fund comes as electricity suppliers in Pennsylvania continue to raise their rates. In June, PECO increased its rates by 12.6%, leading to a significant hike in the average customer's monthly bill. The main driver behind these rising energy costs is growing demand on the electricity grid, particularly from data centers.
The PJM Interconnection, the regional transmission organization that covers Pennsylvania and 12 other states, has faced criticism for its role in increasing energy costs and sluggish shifts to renewable energy sources. Governor Josh Shapiro has threatened to remove Pennsylvania from PJM if it does not address its rising costs.
. I mean, who hasn't had some months where they're struggling to pay their bills, right? It's great that they're offering up to $750 in assistance - it's a pretty big help for people who are barely scraping by. And the income limit isn't too harsh either, I think it's fair that they've set a cap at 300% of the poverty level. Plus, they're not just leaving these people hanging, they're actually working with state and local officials to try and figure out what's going on with energy costs. It's all about finding solutions, you know? 
$750 is a decent amount of help, but i guess its better than nothing 
12.6% increase is steep and it's affecting so many low-to-moderate income households 
they deserve more support from PJM & gov Shapiro should definitely be looking into that 
. $750 is a big difference, but I still think it's not enough for some families who are really struggling 
. If they're going to raise the rates by 12.6% in June, shouldn't we be seeing more support from the government or something? 
. And what about data centers and PJM's role in it all? I hope they're going to make some changes soon because the cost keeps going up 
. Maybe we'll see some other solutions from the state government too?
I gotta say, this is a huge deal for Pennsylvanians who are struggling to pay their PECO bills. $750 in assistance sounds like a lifesaver, especially with the current energy rate hikes 
. It's great that PECO is expanding its Customer Relief Fund and offering more support to low-to-moderate income households who are already struggling to make ends meet 
. However, I do wish they'd also focus on addressing the root causes of energy affordability issues, like increasing renewable energy sources and reducing demand on the grid 
.
. We should all be supporting efforts like this to help our fellow citizens in need 
!
. The thing that really gets me is how many people are affected by rising energy costs - like, have you seen the rates they're increasing at? 12.6% in one go?! That's crazy! 
peco is literally helping people pay their bills 
and its all funded by exelon and united way 
so yeah let's just chill for a sec and appreciate that we got peopls lookin out 4 each other 
. I mean, I get it, energy is expensive, but come on! The customer relief fund is a great idea tho 
shouldn't we be helping everyone who needs it? 
, but have you seen the rise in energy costs lately? 
. I think it's time for us to reevaluate our energy policies and make some real changes. We need to prioritize renewable energy sources and reduce our carbon footprint, not just give handouts to those who are already struggling 
. It's time for us to work together to create a more sustainable and equitable energy system 
It's super stressful when you can't afford the basics, let alone pay your electricity bill on time. I'm so glad they're offering up to $750 in assistance 
️
we should've seen a rise in affordable housing & jobs by now so that ppl don't have to worry about payin energy bills in the 1st place...i think its great that PECO is expandin their customer relief fund tho, but we need more than just $$$ to solve this issue 
for those who are really struggling to pay their energy bills. $750 is a big chunk of change, and it's great that they're offering more help than before 
We need to find ways to make energy more affordable for everyone, not just those who can afford it.
Anyway, props to PECO and the United Way for stepping up and providing this much-needed support. Fingers crossed they can keep the funds coming throughout the year! 
. but seriously, its sad 2 hear ppl r strugglin 2 pay bills. 750 bucks dont sound lotta, tho. shouldnt its more like 1k or somethin? anyways, glad they're tryin 2 help out tho