House Republican Press Release

September 5, 2008

Press Office: 860-240-8700

REP. HOVEY: RESIDENTS CAN BENEFIT FROM ENERGY ASSISTANCE MEASURES

HARTFORD - State Rep. DebraLee Hovey (R-Monroe, Newtown) today reminded Monroe and Newtown residents they can benefit from energy assistance measures approved by the Legislature in late August. The new legislation limits the use of ‘rolling fees’ that fuel oil companies can charge for stocking a homeowner’s tank.

Previous law allowed distributors to charge ‘rolling fees’ if a customer received an order under 150 gallons. The new law decreases the minimum delivery amount from 150 gallons to 100 gallons.

“In this time where home budgets are so tight, lowering the amount of gallons needed to avoid rolling fees can help people this fall and winter,” said Rep. Hovey.

Additional measures approved during the late-August special session include:

Operation Fuel

$8.5 million for Operation Fuel to provide emergency assistance to households with incomes between 151% and 200% of the federal poverty level ($31,800 to $42,400 for a family of four).
$5 million for Operation Fuel to provide emergency assistance to households with incomes between 200% of the federal poverty level and 100% of the state median income ($42,400 to $93,821 for a family of four)

To contact Operation fuel, call 860-243-2345, or on the web at www.operationfuel.org

Energy Conservation Loan Program

$2 million to the Energy Conservation Loan Program to provide additional loans for the program for efficiency improvements, alternative energy devices, and replacement furnaces and boilers. The legislation also sets a 0% interest rate for loans for natural gas furnaces or boilers that meet or exceed federal Energy Star standards and propane and oil furnaces and boilers that are at least 84% efficient, including those eligible for an existing rebate of up to $500. It increases those eligible for the program from 150% to 200% of the state median income (up to $187,642 for a family of four)

For more information, call (800) 992-3665, ext. 2019 or 2023 or visit to: http://www.chif.org/owner_borrowers/apply.shtml

For more information on who is eligible for state and federal energy assistance programs, residents can call the state's 2-1-1 hotline for the location of the nearest agency to apply for the aid. Residents also can call the state's winter heating aid hotline at 800-842-1132 to learn about current income and asset eligibility limits.