For Release: 02/17/2010
Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas Urge Customers to Apply for Financial Assistance
Chicago, IL – As winter-weary Chicagoland residents count the days until spring, Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas urge customers struggling to pay their heating bills to apply for grants still available through LIHEAP, the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.
"It's been a tough beginning to 2010 and many families are still struggling with the effects of the economy. We don’t want anyone to bypass the opportunity to access financial assistance if they need it," said Adrienne M. Jones, director of Government and Community Relations. "Remember, LIHEAP eligibility is based on a household’s last 30 days of income, and it's possible that many people, who have never applied for the grant, are eligible for the first time."
The companies are urging customers to take the time to find out if they are eligible. "We care about our customers and want to help them manage their energy needs and maintain service year-round," added Jones. "That's why we want customers to act quickly to take advantage of these funds."
To apply, Peoples Gas customers can visit a CEDA intake site or call CEDA at 1-800-571-2332. North Shore Gas customers can call the Community Action Partnership of Lake County (CAPLC) at 1-847-249-4330. In addition to LIHEAP, the utilities urge customers to enroll in Budget Billing. Budget Billing allows customers to spread their natural gas bills and payments more evenly over the year and enables them to have a better sense of how much they will pay each month.
Customers are also reminded that weatherization and conservation can help them stay warm as well as reduce usage and bills. Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas offer the following tips to assist customers in conserving and managing their energy usage more efficiently:
- Install a programmable thermostat and set it to dial down the temperature automatically when you leave for work and after you've gone to bed.
- Open your blinds or drapes to let the sun in on sunny days. At night, close them to help insulate your home from the cold.
- Don't heat space you don't use. Close the vents and shut the doors to less used rooms and open them up when you need them.
- Weatherize your house by putting plastic sheeting over the windows and applying caulking around the doors and windows to prevent the cold from seeping in.
- Change or clean your furnace filter at least once a month. Clogged filters inhibit air flow which causes you furnace to worker harder.
- Fifteen percent of what you're spending on natural gas probably goes to heating water. Take shorter showers and wait for a full load before you use the clothes and dishwasher.
"These are simple and affordable steps to reduce the amount of natural gas we use," says Jones. "Weatherization and conservation are great tools in helping customers become more energy-efficient."
Customers are also encouraged to take advantage of programs like the Chicagoland Natural Gas Savings Program. The program offers rebates on purchases of furnaces, boilers, water heaters and home insulation. For information on the rebate program, financial assistance programs or for more energy-saving tips, please visit the companies' websites at www.peoplesgasdelivery.com or www.northshoregasdelivery.com.
About Peoples Gas
Peoples Gas is a regulated natural gas delivery company that serves 840,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in the City of Chicago. The company is a subsidiary of Integrys Energy Group, Inc. (NYSE: TEG). For more information on Peoples Gas, visit the company's web site: www.peoplesgasdelivery.com.
About North Shore Gas
North Shore Gas is a regulated natural gas delivery company that serves 158,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in 54 communities in Northeastern Illinois. The company is a subsidiary of Integrys Energy Group, Inc. (NYSE: TEG). For more information on North Shore Gas, visit the company's web site: www.northshoregasdelivery.com.
For More Information, Contact:
- Bonnie Johnson (Media)
Manager, Public Relations
(312) 240-4567
(312) 907-7333 (cell)