Philadelphia's PECO has stepped up its efforts to help customers struggling with overdue energy bills by expanding its $10 million Customer Relief Fund. The fund, which was previously capped at $500 per household, now offers grants of up to $750, providing much-needed relief for families hit hard by rising energy costs.
To be eligible for the expanded program, households must have overdue bills of no more than $2,500 and fall within a specific income range - between 151% and 300% of the federal poverty level. For a family of four, this translates to an annual income of between $48,547 and $96,450.
The new grants will automatically be applied to households who previously received $500 credits, adding an additional $250 to their total assistance. However, for households with outstanding balances exceeding $2,500, they can still apply for the grants if they're able to reduce their debt to $2,500 or less.
Applications for the expanded program are now open until December 31st, or when funds run out. Eligible customers will receive a total of $750 credits, which will be listed on their energy bills.
The PECO Customer Relief Fund is part of a broader effort to address rising energy costs in Pennsylvania, with PECO and its partners - including Exelon and the United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey - working together to provide support to those most affected by these increases.
"I've expanded the PECO Customer Relief Fund to provide greater support because we know energy supply costs continue to impact household budgets," said David Vahos, PECO's President and CEO. "This enhanced assistance provides relief while we work alongside state and local officials to address the broader challenges driving energy affordability."
However, some critics argue that existing programs are not doing enough to help low-to-moderate income households, who are often left to bear the brunt of rising energy costs.
"PJM Interconnection's actions have led to a status quo that perpetuates slowdowns and rising costs," said Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro. "If we need to chart a new course that delivers more for the good people of Pennsylvania - we will."
The issue of rising energy costs is largely driven by growing demand on the electricity grid, particularly from data centers. PJM Interconnection, the regional transmission organization covering Pennsylvania and 12 other states, has faced criticism for its role in these increases and sluggish shifts to renewable energy sources.
In September, Governor Shapiro threatened to remove Pennsylvania from PJM if it does not address its rising costs, highlighting the need for urgent action to address this issue.
To be eligible for the expanded program, households must have overdue bills of no more than $2,500 and fall within a specific income range - between 151% and 300% of the federal poverty level. For a family of four, this translates to an annual income of between $48,547 and $96,450.
The new grants will automatically be applied to households who previously received $500 credits, adding an additional $250 to their total assistance. However, for households with outstanding balances exceeding $2,500, they can still apply for the grants if they're able to reduce their debt to $2,500 or less.
Applications for the expanded program are now open until December 31st, or when funds run out. Eligible customers will receive a total of $750 credits, which will be listed on their energy bills.
The PECO Customer Relief Fund is part of a broader effort to address rising energy costs in Pennsylvania, with PECO and its partners - including Exelon and the United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey - working together to provide support to those most affected by these increases.
"I've expanded the PECO Customer Relief Fund to provide greater support because we know energy supply costs continue to impact household budgets," said David Vahos, PECO's President and CEO. "This enhanced assistance provides relief while we work alongside state and local officials to address the broader challenges driving energy affordability."
However, some critics argue that existing programs are not doing enough to help low-to-moderate income households, who are often left to bear the brunt of rising energy costs.
"PJM Interconnection's actions have led to a status quo that perpetuates slowdowns and rising costs," said Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro. "If we need to chart a new course that delivers more for the good people of Pennsylvania - we will."
The issue of rising energy costs is largely driven by growing demand on the electricity grid, particularly from data centers. PJM Interconnection, the regional transmission organization covering Pennsylvania and 12 other states, has faced criticism for its role in these increases and sluggish shifts to renewable energy sources.
In September, Governor Shapiro threatened to remove Pennsylvania from PJM if it does not address its rising costs, highlighting the need for urgent action to address this issue.
! The expanded Customer Relief Fund is a huge step towards helping families who are struggling to make ends meet. $750 grants are like a weight lifted off their shoulders 
. I mean, it's not just about throwing some money at the problem, it's about acknowledging that energy costs are a real challenge for many people.
, but I wish they went further to help those who need it most. And what's with the slow pace of change? It's like we're still stuck in the status quo 
. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro is right on this one - we need more than just temporary fixes, we need a real plan to address the growing demand for energy and our reliance on fossil fuels.
We need more than just token relief funds, we need systemic change. The PECO Customer Relief Fund is a start, but let's keep pushing for a better future 
.
I think PECO's Customer Relief Fund is a step in the right direction, but we gotta do more 
. We should be looking at ways to make our grid more sustainable and efficient, like increasing renewable energy sources and promoting energy efficiency measures 
. It's time for us to think outside the box and come up with some real solutions to this problem 
.
I'm a bit late to the party but just saw that PECO is expanding their Customer Relief Fund 
$750 grants for households with overdue bills of up to $2k5? That's some serious support for families struggling to make ends meet 
Maybe they're just trying to buy goodwill before the next round of rate hikes? 
. I also appreciate that PECO is partnering with other organizations to address this issue – it's all about working together to make a difference 
. It's time for us to rethink how we're addressing energy costs and make sure everyone has access to affordable energy 
. It's great to see PECO partnering with other orgs like Exelon and the United Way to address this issue, especially since energy costs are being driven by factors outside of their control (like those data centers 
).
another new program 
at least add a way for us to negotiate with PECO if we can't pay our bills on time 
. Seriously though, $750 credit for families struggling with overdue bills? That's like, nice change of pace from just "you can't pay your electricity bill this month" 
. Governor Shapiro's threat to remove PA from PJM is a good start, maybe now we'll see some real progress on renewable energy sources? Fingers crossed 
.
