The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) recently released the results of its annual Cold Weather Survey, which found that approximately 18,500 households in Pennsylvania that had their utility service terminated during the year are beginning the winter season without heat-related utility service or using unsafe heating sources.
That number is approximately four percent lower than last year and 16 percent lower than the winter of 2016. More than half of the state’s major electric and natural gas distribution companies saw improvements.
The survey found that 5,653 residences are without safe electric heating and 12,888 residences are without safe, natural gas heating. It also found that 10,342 residences where electric service was terminated and 3,564 residences where natural gas service was terminated now appear to be vacant.
The annual Cold Weather Survey helps gauge utility and PUC outreach about heating assistance programs.
“With the coldest months of the year still ahead, it remains critically important for consumers without heat-related utility service to learn about the options available to allow them to reconnect service,” PUC Chairman Gladys M. Brown said. “We urge those residents to take advantage of the numerous programs available to help them restore utility service in order to stay connected, warm and safe this winter.”
According to the PUC’s most recent Universal Service Report, assistance programs help support more than 302,000 electric customers and over 150,000 natural gas customers and are valued at more than $385 million per year.