Press Release

PUC Approves Expansion of UGI Penn Natural Gas Customer Assistance Program to Match UGI’s Low-Income Program

Published on 10/9/2008

Filed under: Electric Gas

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today approved revisions to UGI Penn Natural Gas Inc.’s customer assistance program (CAP) that includes steps to expand the program’s ability to help low-income customers.

The Commission voted 5-0 to approve the revisions, which will consolidate the customer information systems for UGI Utilities Inc. and UGI Penn Natural Gas Inc.  UGI Penn Natural Gas is a wholly owned subsidiary of UGI Utilities Inc. and will merge its customer data into the existing UGI system, taking its current information system out of service beginning January 2009.

The following are changes that will be made to the UGI Penn Natural Gas customer assistance program:

• Expand the CAP to include non-heating customers who would be subject to an annual CAP credit of $640;
• Eliminate the existing arrearage forgiveness provision and implement a new system that forgives pre-program arrearages at the rate of one-third after six months, one-third after 18 months, and one-third after 30 months;
• Remove the requirement for the $5, $7 or $9 customer payments toward the pre-program arrearage;
• Reduce the minimum CAP payment from $25 per month to $18 per month for heating accounts;
• Establish a monthly minimum of $12 per month for non-heating accounts;
• Use the receipt of LIHEAP grants as an automatic recertification of income eligibility for CAP customers; and
• Make UGI Penn Natural Gas’ termination rules consistent with UGI’s termination rules.

UGI Penn Natural Gas will notify customers of the impending changes to the customer assistance program by sending letters outlining details of the changes.  Customers will not have to do anything to remain in the program during the transition.  After the transition, customers will be expected to recertify their qualifications for participation in the program according to their regular recertification schedules.

The Low Income Usage Reduction Program (LIURP), Customer Assistance and Referral Evaluation Services (CARES) and the Hardship Fund, known as Project Outreach, will not be affected by this change because a separate information system is used for these programs.  UGI Penn Natural Gas is a natural gas distribution company serving 158,000 customers in northeastern and central Pennsylvania.

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission balances the needs of consumers and utilities to ensure safe and reliable utility service at reasonable rates; protect the public interest; educate consumers to make independent and informed utility choices; further economic development; and foster new technologies and competitive markets in an environmentally sound manner.

For recent news releases, audio of select Commission proceedings or more information about the PUC, visit our Web site at www.puc.state.pa.us.

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Docket No. P-2008-2024726

Contact:

• Denise McCracken
  Senior Communications Specialist
  717-787-5722
  demccracken@pa.gov