PECO's
Universal Service Programs
General Information:
Where To Call?
You may directly ask about and apply for PECO’s Low Income
Programs by calling 1-800-774-7040.
What Are The Names Of PECO’s Programs?
How Can These Programs Benefit Me?
- CAP lowers your monthly bill based on the amount of your
household income.
- LIURP helps reduce household electric and gas use
resulting in lower bills.
- CARES connects you to local social service agencies
that can help you.
- MEAF provides grants to stop shut-off or to reconnect
service.
The CAP Program
What are the actual benefits I can get in
CAP?
Reduced monthly payments:
- As a CAP customer, you will receive a sizeable discount
on your ongoing electric or gas usage. There are five discounted
rates available to electric customers. There are four rates
available to gas customers. As a CAP customer, you will receive
a discount on a portion of the energy you use, depending
on your income level. This should lead to significant savings
on your bill.
Freezing past debt:
- If you were not enrolled in the CAP program
in the past, then when you enroll, your past debt will be frozen.
This means that as long as you make your CAP payments on
time and in full, PECO will not make collections on that
past due amount and no fees will be applied against the debt.
- If you are removed from the CAP program for failing
to pay your CAP bill in full and on time, then PECO may begin
collection on this amount.
Forgiving past debt:
- If you pay your CAP bill on time and
in full for six consecutive months, your entire outstanding
debt will be forgiven.
How do I know if I am eligible for
CAP?
What are my responsibilities to
get into and stay in CAP?
- You must contact PECO to apply for
CAP by calling 1-800-774-7040.
- You must fill out an application and verify your
income.
- You must pay your CAP bill on time and in full each
month.
Can I be removed from CAP?
- If you do not pay your CAP bill
in full and on time each month, you will be billed a late charge
and your service may be terminated.
- 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 from the program.
Can I get back
into CAP if I am removed from the program?
- Yes. To get back
into CAP, you must pay all of the CAP bills you missed.
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The LIURP Program
What is LIURP?
- LIURP helps households with high electric and
gas use levels conserve energy and reduce monthly energy
bills.
How can I qualify for LIURP?
- You qualify if you are a high
energy user and you have a household income at or below 150%
of the Federal poverty income guidelines OR your household
income is between 150% and 200% of the Federal poverty income
guidelines and you have a past due balance. (Click
here to view a table with the Federal poverty income guidelines.)
- PECO also requires that you use a certain amount
of energy before you can qualify for the program. If you
have electric heat, you must use at least 1,400 kWh monthly.
If you have gas heat, you must use at least 100 ccf’s
monthly. Electric baseload usage for non-CAP customers must
be greater than or equal to 600 kWh monthly (500 kWh monthly
for CAP customers).
- You can call 1-800-675-0222 to see if you are eligible.
You can apply for LIURP services year-round.
What are the
actual benefits of LIURP?
- By participating in LIURP, you
may reduce the amount of energy you use each month. This
will most likely result in lower monthly bills.
- By participating
in LIURP, you will receive a free home energy usage review,
education to help you learn how to reduce your energy use,
and the installation of weatherization measures (e.g., the
replacement of old appliances with new energy efficient ones).
What are my responsibilities as a LIURP participant?
- To receive
services, you must agree to submit verification of your household
income as part of the application process.
- If you are a
tenant, landlord permission will be required to receive LIURP
services.
- As a participant, you must agree to allow a utility
employee (or subcontractor) to inspect your residence and
perform an energy audit.
- You must also agree to allow a utility employee (or
subcontractor) to inspect your residence one year after the
conservation measures are installed. This allows the utility
to determine if the conservation measures have been cost
effective and helped you to reduce your energy consumption.
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The CARES
Program
The CARES program connects customers unable to pay their bills
due to a temporary hardship with resources located in their
own community. These community resources then help the customer
manage his/her problems.
How do I qualify for CARES?
- PECO may refer you to this program
if you have an income at or below 200% of the Federal poverty
income guidelines (click
here to view a table with the Federal poverty income guidelines),
and/or you are a senior citizen, and/or you have any government-based
income, and you are payment troubled and have special circumstances.
- Examples of a temporary hardship include divorce,
family emergency, unemployment, and medical emergencies.
What are the benefits to me of 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
PECO 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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The MEAF Program
The MEAF program is a hardship fund providing customers with
cash assistance to help pay down their outstanding balances.
It operates when LIHEAP is closed. Grants are administered
by MEAF agencies throughout the state, including UESF (Utility
Emergency Services Fund) in Philadelphia, and the Suburban
Fuel Funds in Chester, Montgomery, Delaware, York, and Bucks
counties.
What are the benefits of applying for a MEAF grant?
- If
you qualify, you may receive up to $500 per commodity (gas
or electric) toward the payment of your past due utility debt.
- Hardship fund grants may be used to make up missed
CAP payments.
When can I request a grant from MEAF?
- UESF applicants may apply
any time if LIHEAP ineligible. If verified income is 135% -
175% of the Federal poverty income guidelines (click
here to view a table with the Federal poverty income guidelines), applications may be
made when LIHEAP is open.
- Suburban Fuel Funds applicants must have applied
for LIHEAP, when applicable. If verified income is 135% -
150% of the Federal poverty income guidelines, applications
may be made when LIHEAP is open.
How do I qualify for a MEAF
grant?
You must meet the following requirements to qualify
for a MEAF UESF grant:
- Your household income must be at or below
175% of the Federal poverty income guidelines (click
here to view a table with the Federal poverty income guidelines).
- You must be a resident
of Philadelphia.
- Your utility service must be shut off or in shut-off
status.
- The utility bill must be in your or your spouse’s
name.
- If you are employed, you must be the head of a household
supporting one minor or senior dependent.
- You must not have received a UESF grant within the
past two years.
- You must have applied for LIHEAP Cash and Crisis
assistance programs when available.
- The grant must reduce your utility bill to zero,
whether used alone or with other resources.
You must meet
the following requirements to qualify for a MEAF Suburban
Fuel Funds grant:
- Your household income must be at or below
150% of the Federal poverty income guidelines (click
here to view a table with the Federal poverty income guidelines).
- You must be a resident of the county in which you
are applying for a grant.
- Your utility service must be shut off or in shut-off
status.
- The electric or gas bill must be in the customer’s
name.
- You must have applied for LIHEAP Cash and Crisis
assistance programs when available.
- You must have signed up for weatherization services
provided by your county.
- The grant must reduce your utility bill to zero,
whether used alone or with other resources.
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