First Energy:
MetEd & Penelec's
Universal Service Programs
General Information:
Where To Call?
You may directly ask about
and apply for Met-Ed and Penelec’s
Low-Income Programs by calling 1-800-207-9276.
What Are The Names Of Met-Ed and Penelec’s Programs?
How Can These Programs Benefit Me?
- PCAP lowers your
monthly bill based on the amount of your household income.
- The Warm Program helps reduce household electric
use resulting in lower bills.
- CARES connects you to local social service agencies
that can help you.
- Dollar Energy Fund provides grants to stop shut-off
or to reconnect service.
The PCAP
Program
What are the actual benefits I can get in
PCAP?
Reduced monthly payments:
- As a PCAP customer, you will receive
a sizeable discount on your ongoing electric usage. Your
new PCAP bill will be based on your income level, rather
than your actual electric usage. This will lead to significant
savings on your bill.
Freezing past debt:
- If you were not enrolled in the PCAP
program in the past, then when you enroll, your past debt
will be frozen. This means that as long as you make your
PCAP payments on time and in full, Met-Ed and Penelec will
not make collections on the past due amount and no fees will
be applied against the debt.
- If you are removed from the PCAP
program for failing to pay your PCAP bill in full and on
time, then Met-Ed and Penelec may begin collection on this
amount.
Forgiving past debt:
- For each month that you make your full
PCAP payment, 1/24 of your pre-program debt will be forgiven.
How do I
know if I am eligible for PCAP?
- You are eligible for PCAP
if you have a household income at or below 150% of the Federal
poverty income guidelines (click
here to view a table with the Federal poverty income guidelines).
- You have an active
account.
- You reside in the household if your name is on the
account.
- You must also agree to participate in LIHEAP and
Warm Program services if you are eligible for those programs.
What
are my responsibilities to get into and stay in PCAP?
- You
must contact Met-Ed or Penelec to apply for PCAP.
- You must fill out an application and verify your
income.
- You must pay your PCAP bill on time and in full each
month.
Can I be removed from PCAP?
- If your household income increases above the eligibility
guidelines, or you do not provide the requested annual income
information, or you do not comply with program guidelines,
then you may be removed or suspended from the program.
- If you don’t make your PCAP payment in full
and on time each month, you risk having your service terminated
and losing PCAP benefits.
Can I get back into PCAP if I am
removed or suspended from the program?
- Yes. To get
back into PCAP, you must pay all of the PCAP bills you missed.
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The Warm Program
What is the Warm Program?
- First Energy’s Warm Program
helps households with high electric use levels conserve energy
and reduce monthly energy bills.
How can I qualify for the
Warm Program?
- You must use electric to heat your home and have
lived there for at least 6 months.
- You qualify if you have
a household income at or below 150% of the Federal poverty
income guidelines OR if your household income is at or below
200% of the Federal poverty income guidelines and you have
special needs. (Click
here to view Federal poverty income guidelines table.)
- Renters or homeowners may qualify.
- You must also have an
average electric usage of 600 kWh per month.
What are the
actual benefits of the Warm Program?
- By participating in the
Warm Program, you may reduce the amount of energy you use
each month. This will most likely result in lower monthly
bills.
- By participating in the Warm Program, you will receive
a free home energy usage review, education to help you learn
how to reduce your energy use, and
the possible installation of energy conservation measures
(i.e., the replacement of old appliances with new energy-efficient
ones).
What are my responsibilities as a Warm Program participant?
- To
receive services, you must agree to submit verification of
your household income as part of the application process.
- As
a participant, you must agree to allow a utility employee
(or subcontractor) to inspect your residence and perform
an energy audit.
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The CARES Program
The CARES program helps customers unable to pay their electric
bills due to a temporary hardship. The CARES program connects
customers with resources located in their own community. These
community resources then help the customer manage his/her problems.
How do I qualify for CARES?
- Any customer who is experiencing a recent hardship
can qualify. Examples include serious illness or injury, the
death of a wage earner, handicap, or sudden loss of employment.
- Any customer 60 years of age or older requiring special
assistance may qualify.
What are the benefits to me of participating in CARES?
What are the benefits of me participating in CARES?
- Participants in CARES can receive free referrals
to assistance agencies in the local community, such as a
nonprofit organization or social service agency.
- Participants in CARES can receive referrals to other
Met-Ed and Penelec Universal Services programs.
- Participants in CARES may receive special payment
arrangements depending on their payment history and on their
specific situation.
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Dollar Energy
Fund - Hardship Fund Program
The Dollar Energy Fund program provides customers with cash
assistance to help pay down their outstanding balances. This
program is operated by Dollar Energy Fund, a nonprofit partner
of Met-Ed and Penelec.
What are the benefits of applying for a Dollar Energy Fund
grant?
- If you qualify, you may receive up to $500 toward
the payment of your past due utility debt.
When can I request
a grant from Dollar Energy Fund?
- From October to February, only customers whose service
is off can apply for a grant.
- From March through September, any customer may apply
for a grant.
How do I qualify for a Dollar Energy Fund grant?
- If you qualify to receive a LIHEAP grant from the
Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare, then you must
apply for one before you can apply for a Dollar Energy Fund
grant.
- You must participate in PCAP, if eligible.
- You must
reside in the household and have a household income at or
below 200% of the Federal poverty income guidelines. (Click
here to view Federal poverty income guidelines table.)
- You
must have paid at least $150 toward your bill over the past
90 days ($100 if you are 62 years of age or older).
- You must have more than $100 as a past due balance
($0 balance for those over age 62).
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