T.W. Phillips
Gas & Oil
Company Universal Service Programs
General Information:
Where To Call?
You may directly ask about and apply for T.
W. Phillips Low-Income
Programs by calling 1-866-276-4055.
What Are The Names Of T.
W. Phillips Programs?
How Can These Programs Benefit Me?
- EHF lowers your monthly
gas bill based on the amount of your household income.
- Wise Choice helps reduce household gas 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 EHF Program
What are the actual benefits
I can get in EHF?
Reduced monthly payments:
- As an EHF customer, you will receive
a sizeable discount on your gas bill.
- LIHEAP, Dollar Energy Fund, and other assistance
grants, if received, will also be used to reduce monthly
EHF payments.
Freezing past debt:
- Any amount that you owed T.W. Phillips
prior to enrolling in the Energy Help Fund will be frozen
and will not increase as long as you continue to make your
EHF monthly payments in full and on time. T.W. Phillips will
not make collections on that past due amount and no fees
will be applied against the debt.
- If you are removed from
the EHF program for failing to pay your bill in full and
on time, then T.W. Phillips may begin collection on this
amount.
Forgiving past debt:
- If you pay your EHF bill in full and
on time each month, T. W. Phillips will forgive 1/36th of your
past debt, if any, up to a maximum arrearage forgiveness of
$200 per year, or $600 over 3 years.
- If you still have gas service account arrearage
after 36 months, you may reapply to the EHF program and if
you qualify, you may earn additional past-debt forgiveness.
How
do I know if I am eligible for EHF?
- You are eligible 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).
- If you have received LIHEAP grants in the past 12 months,
you will be enrolled in EHF and/or LIURP without income verification.
- Information
received from customers is also used to determine eligibility
for participation in LIURP.
What are my responsibilities to
get into and stay in EHF?
- You must contact T. W. Phillips
to apply. You can call them at 1-866-276-4055.
- You must fill
out an application and verify your income and household expenses;
and provide names, birth dates and social security numbers
of all household members.
- You must pay your EHF bill on
time and in full each month.
- You must notify T. W. Phillips of any change in income,
residence, or number of household members.
- You will be enrolled in the EHF program for a 36-month
period; you may re-enroll if you still satisfy the annual
income requirements. (If a waiting list for EHF exists upon
completion of the 36 month period, customers with annual
incomes from 101% - 150% of the Federal poverty income guidelines
may not re-enroll until after 12 months at standard rates.)
Can
I be removed from EHF?
- If you fail to fulfill the terms
and conditions of the EHF agreement letter, you will be removed
from the program for one year and service termination procedures
will be started. (Exceptions may be made if only one payment
has been missed.)
- 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 EHF if I am removed from the program?
- To get back into
EHF, you must pay all of the EHF bills you missed.
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The Wise
Choice Weatherization Program
What is Wise Choice?
T.W. Phillips’ Wise Choice program
helps households with high gas use levels conserve energy and
reduce monthly energy bills.
How can I qualify for Wise Choice?
- You must have a household
income at or below 300% of the Federal poverty income guidelines.
(Click here to view
a table with the Federal poverty income guidelines.)
- Exceptions for the income eligibility guidelines
may be made for low-income customers with special needs (such
as a medical condition) who might benefit from energy conservation.
- You must have a residential gas heating account, must
not have moved or had a long break in service during the
past 12 months, and must plan to live at the same address
for the next 12 months.
- If you are a renter, the gas account must be in your
name; your unit must be metered separately and have an individual
heating system; and permission must be obtained from the
landlord.
- Additionally, you must have annual gas usage of at
least 120 Mcf/year.
What are the actual benefits of Wise Choice?
- By participating
in Wise Choice, you may reduce the amount of energy you use
each month. This will most likely result in lower monthly
bills.
- By participating in Wise Choice, you will receive
a free home energy audit, a gas appliance safety inspection,
education to help you learn how to reduce your energy use,
and the installation of energy conservation measures (e.g.,
furnace tune-ups, attic and sidewall insulation, and weatherstripping).
What are my responsibilities as a Wise Choice participant?
- To
receive services, you must agree to submit verification of
your household income as part of the application process.
- If
you have received LIHEAP grants in the past 12 months, you
will be enrolled in EHF and/or LIURP without income verification.
- You must listen to information about energy conservation.
- You must conserve natural gas.
- 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
T.W. Phillips’ CARES
program helps customers unable to pay their gas 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?
- There are no income guidelines to qualify
for the CARES program. Any customer experiencing a temporary
hardship, such as loss of employment or the death of a wage
earner, is eligible to apply.
- You must be willing to work
with a CARES representative, to contact recommended agencies,
and to apply for all eligible forms of assistance.
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
T.W. Phillips’ Universal Service 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
T.
W. Phillips' Dollar Energy Fund Hardship 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 T. W. Phillips.
What are the benefits
of applying for a Dollar Energy 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
1, 2008 through February 28, 2009, if applicants are eligible
and programs are open, applicants must apply for LIHEAP and
CRISIS before applying for the Dollar Energy grant.
- From October 1, 2008 through November 30, 2008, only
customers whose service is off or in threat of termination
can apply for a grant.
- From December 1, 2008 through January 31, 2009, only
customers whose service is off can apply for a grant.
- From February 1, 2009 through February 28, 2009,
only customers whose service is off or in threat of termination
can apply for a grant.
- Starting March 1, 2009, any eligible customer may
apply for a grant, regardless of service status.
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 reside in
the household and have a household income at or below 200%
of the Federal poverty income guidelines (click
here to view a table with the Federal poverty income guidelines).
- You must have $100 or more as a past due balance
($0 balance for those age 62 years and over).
- You must have paid at least $150 toward your bill
over the past 90 days ($100 for those age 62 years and over).
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