PPL

More than 33,000 PPL Electric Utilities customers got heating bill help worth more than $8.5 million last winter through the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP.

PPL wants its eligible customers to remember to register for the program.

Applications for LIHEAP opened Nov. 2. The program closes April 1, 2016, but funds are not unlimited.

LIHEAP cash grants help families pay their heating bills. The grant is sent to the customer’s utility company or fuel provider and is shown as a credit on their bill. In some cases, the grant goes directly to the customer. Grants also are available for heating emergencies such as an equipment breakdown.

The utility also is reaching out to community agencies across its service territory to make sure they know to refer any potentially eligible customers.

Though more than 33,000 customers got assistance last year, PPL estimates there are tens of thousands of others who could be eligible but do not apply.

Potential recipients do not have to have an unpaid heating bill and they can either own or rent their home. And though the federal program is run through county assistance offices, those who get grants do not need to be public assistance recipients.

Income guidelines for 2015-16 are $17,655 for one person and increase $6,240 for each additional person in the household.

For more information about LIHEAP, including specific income guidelines, visit pplelectric.com/heatinghelp.