City of Philadelphia - File #: 040346

• File #: 040346
• Version: 0
• Type: Resolution
• Status: ADOPTED
• File created: 4/1/2004
• In control: CITY COUNCIL
• Final action: 4/1/2004
• Title: Memorializing the Governor and General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to adopt a program to supplement the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program ("LIHEAP") appropriation that will be available for all households throughout the Commonwealth which qualify for federal assistance.
• Sponsors: Council President Verna, Councilmember Blackwell, Councilmember Rizzo, Councilmember Reynolds Brown, Councilmember DiCicco, Councilmember Goode, Councilmember Ramos, Councilmember Clarke, Councilmember Miller, Councilmember Mariano, Councilmember O'Neill, Councilmember Tasco, Councilmember Kenney, Councilmember Krajewski, Councilmember Kelly, Councilmember Cohen

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result	Tally
4/1/2004	0	CITY COUNCIL	ADOPTED
4/1/2004	0	CITY COUNCIL	READ
4/1/2004	0	CITY COUNCIL	Introduced	Pass

Title
Memorializing the Governor and General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to adopt a program to supplement the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program ("LIHEAP") appropriation that will be available for all households throughout the Commonwealth which qualify for federal assistance.
Body
WHEREAS, The Philadelphia Gas Works ("PGW") rates are the highest in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the annual bill for a typical PGW residential heating customer is projected to exceed $1,450 for the 2003-2004 fiscal year; and

WHEREAS, Federal nationwide assistance for the cost of home energy has been stagnant since approximately 1982; and

WHEREAS, The federal energy assistance to Pennsylvania is only sufficient to provide funds to one-half of all households who are qualified to receive assistance under federal guidelines; and

WHEREAS, One-half of all states provide energy assistance to households that qualify under federal guidelines; and

WHEREAS, Pennsylvania is only one of two cold weather states in the Northeast and Midwest which does not provide any supplemental assistance to households that qualify for LIHEAP; and

WHEREAS, PGW customers are already paying rates which include substantial expenses in the range of $125 million for uncollectible billings and programs which provide rate discounts to low-income and senior citizen customers; and

WHEREAS, Additional federal aid would almost have to double in order to provide the level of funding that existed in 1982; and

WHEREAS, It is highly unlikely that the current administration in Washington, D.C. will authorize additional LIHEAP appropriations; now therefore

RESOLVED, That the Council of the City of Philadelphia hereby requests that the Governor and General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania adopt a plan to supplement the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program ("LIHEAP") tha...