ENERGY ASSISTANCE TERMS

CEAP - Consumer Energy Assistance Program - assistance for low-income
     households. Vendor payments are made only to the fuel or utility service used as 
     the primary heating source.  If heat is included in the rent and rent is less than 30% 
     of gross income, a small payment is made directly to the household.

CAA - Community Action Action Agencies - administer the energy assistance 
     program (CEAP) and weatherization for the state.  Individual CAAs have limited 
     additional services which may be available to help low-income individuals including
     programs providing  job training, education, child day care, housing and homeless
     services, community centers, mental health services, food, senior centers and
     nutrition programs,  retired senior volunteer programs, criminal justice, and pretrial
     intervention.  Call INFOLINE at 211 to identify local CAAs, and contact the CAA to 
     determine assistance availability.

DSS - Connecticut Department of Social Services - oversees CAA administration
     of the energy and weatherization assistance program.  DSS has limited programs 
     available  to families and individuals in need:
     Cash assistance - major programs include assistance to families and disabled or 
          elderly persons.
     Medical assistance - program available for low-income families and children;
          disabled or elderly persons; and destitute individuals.
     Food assistance - food stamp program.
     Housing assistance - including assistance with security deposits; emergency 
          shelter, moving and storage expenses, and home-owner repair assistance for 
          households receiving cash assistance from DSS.
     Assistance obtaining child support.
     Services for elderly and disabled persons including home care.
     Child care assistance to allow parents to work (contracted for administration with 
     outside agency).
     Contact INFOLINE at 211 to identify local sites to apply for assistance.
     

Emergency Heating System Repair/Replacement - where heating system is unsafe
     or inoperable, repair or replacement is available to CEAP eligible homeowners 
     through the CAA and to DSS cash assistance recipients through DSS.

Applications - Applications for energy assistance are taken at local Community Action
     Agencies.  Call INFOLINE at 211 for local sites.

Fuel Banks: Operation Fuel - Fuel banks and others provide assistance with energy
     and utility bills.  Operation Fuel generally provides assistance to households
     between 150% and 200% of the poverty level though funds may be available to
     assist persons at other income levels.  Call INFOLINE at 211 for local sites.

Soldiers, Sailors and Marines Fund - provides emergency assistance, including
     help with utility and energy bills, for honorably discharged veterans who served
     during specific time periods.  Spouses and dependent children can also get
     assistance.  Application sites are located in every town.  Call INFOLINE at 211.

Weatherization - available through Community Action Agencies and may be
     available from the utility.  CL&P customers contact INFOLINE at 211; UI customers
     contact UI directly.

Arrearage Forgiveness Programs - SCG, CNG and Yankee Gas have programs 
     beginning each November where CEAP eligible households (and in some cases 
     recipients of other charitable utility payments such as fuel banks) are put on budget 
     payment plans.  If the household makes all the payments due under the plan on time,
     back bills owed to a utility are forgiven on a semi-annual basis.  The amount of the 
     back bill which is forgiven is equal to the payments made by the household and by 
     the energy assistance program, effectively doubling this amount.   CL&P and UI also
     have arrearage forgiveness programs with separate eligibility criteria and 
     forgiveness schedules.  Apply with the utility.

Hardship - Low-income or "hardship" customers are entitled to have gas heat and
     electric service turned on between November 1st and April 15th even if they owe the
     utility company money.  If gas heat service was provided during the prior winter
     based on "hardship" and service was turned off between April 15th and October
     31st, then to get service turned on, the customer must pay the lesser of $100, the
     minimum payments due under the payment agreement, or 20% of the debt to the
     utility company.  If a utility termination is life-threatening, gas or electric service must
     be provided year-round even if the customer cannot pay the full bill.

NOTE: Information provided by Shirley Bergert, Connecticut Legal Services, Inc.