Utility Help and Emergency Financial Assistance

North Hills Community Outreach can help qualifying families in many ways with utilities, housing, and other urgent financial needs.

Duquesne Light Customer Assistance Program (CAP)
The Customer Assistance Program from Duquesne Light is designed to help low-income families afford to pay their monthly utility bills. In addition to offering a discounted budget amount, most customers are also eligible to have their initial account balance placed into arrearage. This is usually enough to take new CAP customers out of the threat of termination. The minimum discount you will receive is 15% off of the household budget amount. When you pay your CAP bill on time and in full Duquesne Light will write off 1/36th of your frozen arrearage.

For assistance with Duquesne Light CAP, call the Millvale office to make an appointment, Monday through Friday, 9-4, at 412-487-6316, option 2. All CAP applications must be made in person by a member of the household age 18 or older. The creator of the account must reside at the address receiving Duquesne light service. (Although Duquesne Light may list two or more names on the bill, this does not always mean that the bill is in your name.)

You must bring this information to your CAP appointment:

• The Social Security numbers for each member of the household 6 months or older.
• Proof of income for anyone living in the household, including roommates, students, and children.
• A Duquesne Light bill or shut off notice.
• Other household information, including budget amounts for rent, food, other utilities, transportation, etc.
  

Income Guidelines: The CAP program is based on the federal poverty guidelines. If you are 62 or older, you can qualify for CAP at 200% of the guideline. If you are younger than 62, you qualify at 150%.

Accounts without service: Accounts that have been shut off due to non-payment cannot be enrolled in the CAP program.

Security deposits: If you are applying for service for the first time, Duquesne Light may ask for a security deposit; if you are eligible for CAP, we can usually recommend waiving the security deposit to Duquesne Light. Duquesne Light will not waive the security deposit for clients who owe a back balance from a previous address.

Other Duquesne Light CAP offices:

• 2600 E Carson St, 15203, 412-390-2313
• 345 5th Ave, McKeesport, 15132, 412-664-1967
• 18 May St., McKees Rocks, 15136, 412-331-8665
• 1601 Brighton Rd, 15212, 412-322-6588
• 524 Franklin Ave, Aliquippa, 15001, 724-378-2882

CAP For Other Utilities
Every publicly held utility must have a CAP program. Below are the numbers to access CAP information from other local utility companies.

• Allegheny Power, 800-207-1250
• People’s Natural Gas, 800-400-WARM (9276)
• Columbia Gas, 800-537-7431
• T.W. Phillips, 866-276-4055
• Equitable Gas, 877-577-8735

LIHEAP and CRISIS
The Low Income Heating Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is a state program designed to help low-income families afford their heating costs during the winter. Usually open from November to March, LIHEAP is a grant that is paid directly to the utilities on behalf of the families that apply. The eligibility for each season as well as grant size is determined at the start of the season. For 2009, the maximum income eligibility level was 150% of the FIG and the minimum grant was $200. The application process can be completed online or via mail application. The approval process takes a minimum of 45 days.

LIHEAP part 2, or CRISIS, is the emergency version of LIHEAP. CRISIS is designed to help low income families avoid termination or help restore service. Each grant can only be applied to one utility: either the primary or secondary heating source is eligible for assistance. Residents of Allegheny County should call the Department of Human Services at 1-800-851-3838.

The Dollar Energy Fund
The Dollar Energy fund is a privately run hardship fund to assist low income families with their utility bills. Through a partnership with every major utility company, the Dollar Energy fund offers grants to help families restore service or prevent termination. NHCO can help you apply.

• Make 200% or less of the federal poverty level
• You must have paid at least $150 towards your gas or electric bill or $100 toward your water bill 90 days prior to applying.
• Provide proof of income, social security numbers and proof of payment.

The Smart Comfort Program
Duquesne Light’s Smart Comfort program helps households with high electric use levels conserve energy and reduce monthly energy bills.

Emergency Financial Assistance
As funds allow and depending on individual circumstances, we can help pay rent or a security deposit to prevent eviction or homelessness (you must have some income to be eligible); car repairs so that a person does not lose his or her job; prescriptions for an un- or underinsured person; critical home repairs, etc.

If you are experiencing a financial crisis and qualify under our income guidelines (150% of poverty), contact the NHCO office closest to you:

• Allison Park - Natalie Klaum - 412-487-6316 (option 1)
• North Boroughs - Nicole Davis - 412-307-0069
• Millvale - Heather George - 412-487-6316 (option 2)

Extended Rent and Utility Help Available for Qualifying Families
NHCO was selected as one of five lead agencies in the county to provide significant rent and utility help to families affected by the current economic downturn. This is being financed in part with grants from the Allegheny County Department of Economic Development and the City of Pittsburgh through The Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Recovery Program.

Families must be homeless or near-homeless with an income below 50% of the area median income (see guidelines, below) and work closely with a case manager on housing, employment and financial goals to become economically self-sufficient. Contact the Call Center toll-free at 1-877-350-4777.

Income Guidelines (Annual Gross Income per household size)
1 person: $21,900
2 people: $25,000
3 people: $28,150
4 people: $31,250
5 people: $33,750
6 people: $36,250
7 people: $38,750
8 people: $41,250