3/15/2022
YARMOUTH, Maine (March 15, 2022) – Summit Natural Gas of Maine (Summit) has received approval from the Maine Public Utilities Commission to begin administering a low-income program for residential heating customers. The Commission’s approval of this program allows Summit to better meet the needs of its customers during a cold winter where energy costs have been a concern. Summit’s low-income program is the latest step in the utility’s ongoing efforts to support its customers and communities.
“This program will provide our residential customers currently enrolled in LIHEAP a significant reduction in their monthly bills,” said Matt Jacobson, Summit’s Director of Sales & Marketing. “As a company, we are always looking for ways to support our customers. Though natural gas is still more affordable than oil or propane, this low-income program will offer those struggling to pay their bills additional relief. When our customers are sitting around the table at night, we don’t want them worrying about how they’ll afford to heat their homes.”
Summit will offer enrollees in the low-income program a 28% reduction in facility and distribution charges on their monthly bills. Beginning April 1, 2022, Summit customers receiving state or federal low-income home energy assistance (LIHEAP) will be automatically enrolled in the program and will see it reflected as a credit on future bills. Customers who are eligible for LIHEAP but do not receive funds due to LIHEAP funding limitations are also eligible for the program and with proof of eligibility for LIHEAP assistance.
Summit urges customers struggling to pay their bills to call their customer service department as soon as possible to learn more about payment assistance options including payment plans, budget billing, energy efficiency rebates, and information about heating assistance programs offered by the state and municipality. Customers can call customer service at 1.800.909.7642 for assistance.
About Summit Natural Gas of Maine: Summit Natural Gas of Maine provides natural gas service to many Maine communities in and around Kennebec Valley, Cumberland, Falmouth, and Yarmouth. It serves more than 4,500 customers and is committed to providing a reliable, modern and safe natural gas system to its customers. Summit Natural Gas of Maine operates approximately 300 miles of transmission and distribution piping, all of which are odorized.
We take pride in being your local natural gas provider and look forward to continuing to serve families and businesses in Maine for decades to come.
About the Federal Low-Income Energy Assistance Program: The Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) has been administered by the federal government since 1981 and offers financial assistance to low-income recipients with home heating and weatherization needs. In Maine it has been used by regulated energy utilities as a benchmark for admission to low-income plans, as Summit proposed in its application to the PUC.
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