Survey: Fewer Pa. households entered 2019-20 winter without heat

Fewer Pennsylvania households entered the current winter season without heat than in the two previous years, according to the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission.

More than 18,350 households across the state entered the winter season without heat-related utility service or using unsafe heating sources, PUC said in its 2019 Cold Weather Survey.

That figure is about 1% lower than 2018 (with 171 fewer households starting the winter without heat) and 5% lower than 2017 (925 fewer households), according to PUC. Figures are not broken down by county.

The Cold Weather Survey is based on reporting from the state’s eight major electric and natural gas utilities. Companies under PUC’s jurisdiction are required to survey residential properties where service has been terminated and has not been reconnected during the calendar year.

As part of the survey, the utility makes four attempts to contact consumers who are known to be without heat-related utility service. As a result of that contact, 33,423 households had their heat-related utility service reconnected with a payment arrangement in 2019, PUC said.

The Cold Weather Survey also showed the following (as of Dec. 1):

• 5,655 residences were without safe electric heating, including 5,545 households without electric service and 110 households using potentially unsafe heating sources.
• 12,715 residences were without safe natural gas heating, including 11,663 households without natural gas service and 1,052 households using potentially unsafe heating sources.
• 10,783 residences where electric service was terminated and 4,246 residences where natural gas service was terminated now appear to be vacant.

PUC defines “potentially unsafe heating sources” as kerosene heaters, kitchen stoves/ovens, electric space heaters, fireplaces and extension cords connected to neighbors’ homes.

“We encourage consumers across Pennsylvania to work closely with their utilities to maintain their heat-related services and explore the many options available to help households that may be struggling,” said PUC Chairman Gladys Brown Dutrieuille.

Applications for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program for the 2019-20 winter season are being accepted by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services through April 10 — or earlier if funds run out.