For Immediate Release
November 22, 2000
Contact: Rusty Cheuvront or Mark Pfeiffer (502) 564-2611 

Governor Patton Orders Heating Assistance

Frankfort, Ky. - In anticipation of higher prices for natural gas and heating oil in the winter season, Governor Paul Patton today Called on public utilities and the public to work together to provide some safeguards against undue utility cutoffs.  “As gas prices have risen, public concerns have been voiced nationwide about how long these higher prices will last, if there is enough gas supply to meet the demand, and the impact these increases will have on winter heating bills,” the governor said. “With the cooperation I’m calling for today, no Kentuckian should have to make the choice between food or heat, medication or heat, suffering disconnection because the bill was too high. With everyone's cooperation, no Kentucky home should be cold this winter.”

Several months ago, Governor Patton asked the Public Service Commission, the Cabinet for Families and Children, and the Natural Resources Cabinet to hold hearings and identify the needs and the programs available in Kentucky to help families with the expected increase in their winter heating bills.

Governor Patton said, “ Out of these hearings, we found a willingness among all of our natural gas utilities to work with customers who are having trouble paying their bills.  These utilities understand that with prices as high as they are, many customers will be having trouble this season paying the higher bills.”  But, the governor emphasized, “no utility can help you if you do not contact them.  If you’re having trouble with your bill, contact your utility and set up a payment plan that will keep your gas service on, while allowing you to pay installments on the bill that work within your budget.”

The governor also issued an Executive Order giving utilities more responsibility in ensuring low-income households qualifying for assistance receive that help this winter. 

Under the order, utilities are to work with state agencies to develop a procedure to ascertain whether a customer near cutoff for nonpayment qualifies for any low-income winter assistance.

Additionally, the governor said he wrote President Clinton in September requesting early release of Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funds to allow the Cabinet for Families and Children to increase the benefit to each household.  As a result of that request, Kentucky did receive about $4.7-million dollars of early released funds that will allow CFC to increase the benefit by 25% to low-income households that use natural gas, propane, fuel oil and kerosene for heating.

Governor Patton also outlined a number of steps that people can take to avoid a utility cutoff and prepare for the winter heating bills ahead. 

•  Turn down your thermostat.

• Seal air leaks in windows or doors with caulk or plastic.

• Wrap your water heater with insulation.

• Lower the temperature setting on your water heater.

• Add insulation, especially in the attic.

• Fix leaky water pipes.

•  Heat only occupied spaces.

• If you have a manufactured home, use skirting around the base.

• Check to make sure ductwork is sealed and does not leak.

• Make sure you gas heating systems are adjusted correctly, call a service technician if there is a concern.

For more information or help with winter heating problems, call the Kentucky Association for Community Action at 1- 800-456-3452 or contact your local community action agency.   

More energy saving tips and a list of the state agencies that will assist families with winter heating problems are available on the Natural Resources Cabinet web page (www.kyenvironment.org), click on energy.

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