Partnership to provide energy assistance relief - Chicago News and Weather | FOX 32 News

Partnership to provide energy assistance relief

Peoples Gas and the Citizens Utility Board have teamed up to promote the Peoples Gas "Share the Warmth" program, which provides financial assistance to qualifying residents.

"Share the Warmth" is an energy assistance program that offers matching grants up to $200 to those who qualify.

"The ‘Share the Warmth' program can help qualifying families reduce their old debt right now, before another round of low temperatures and high natural gas bills set in," CUB Executive Director David Kolata said.

Since 2000, "Share the Warmth" has presented more than $10 million in heating assistance grants to more than 50,000 families.

The program receives funding through a grant from the City of Chicago and donations from Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas utilities, employees as well as customers.

Currently, "Share the Warmth" has more than $585,000 available for those who need assistance.

Residents whose income is at or below 200 percent of the poverty level are eligible to apply. Residents with LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) grants may also be eligible to receive a "Share the Warmth" grant.

Customers can apply at any of the Energy Action Network (EAN) sites. To find the site locations, visit http://www.citizensutilityboard.org or http://www.peoplesgasdelivery.com/home/share_warmth.aspx.

Peoples Gas and CUB also suggest customers lower their thermostat on hot water heaters, shield windows, close windows and doors, and seal leaky ducts to reduce their energy bills.

Single-family home owners as well as multi-family building owners are eligible for rebates when installing certain types of energy-saving products. The Residential Prescriptive Rebate Program proposes up to $750 for complete system replacements; $600 for boilers; $500 for furnaces and 30 cents per square foot for attic insulation. This programs runs until May 31, 2013.