GREENSBURG, Pa., Oct. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Residential
customers of Penelec, Penn Power, Met-Ed and West Penn Power,
subsidiaries of FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE), who are having
difficulty making ends meet are encouraged to contact their utility
now to enroll in payment plans or to receive referrals for bill
assistance programs. Establishing an affordable payment arrangement
or obtaining assistance can help keep balances manageable now that
shut-offs for nonpayment have resumed.
"The pandemic has greatly increased financial hardships among
our Pennsylvania customers," said
Scott Wyman, president of
Pennsylvania Operations for FirstEnergy. "Customers who have lost
income during this crisis and who are behind on their utility bills
may be eligible for assistance that was unavailable to them
before."
Programs customers may be eligible to participate in
include:
- The Pennsylvania Customer Assistance Program (PCAP):
Helps residential customers maintain electric service through debt
forgiveness and percentage of income payment plans. This program is
administered through the Dollar Energy Fund. To apply, call
1-800-282-6816 or visit https://www.dollarenergy.org/myapp/.
- The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP):
This program is administered by PA Department of Human Services and
can provide payment directly to the utility company to help with
heating bills or to help maintain or restore service. The program
opened October 18, 2021. To apply,
call 1-866-857-7095 or visit http://www.compass.state.pa.us.
- The Dollar Energy Fund (DEF): This program can provide
payment directly to the utility company to help maintain or restore
service. The program opened October 1,
2021. To apply, visit
https://www.dollarenergy.org/need-help/application-process/ or call
1-800-683-7036.
- 2-1-1 Helpline: This nationwide resource and information
helpline identifies locally available programs that may assist
customers with utility bills or other needs. For more information
dial 2-1-1, text your ZIP code to 898211 or visit the 2-1-1
website.
- Due to the hardships that customers are facing because of the
coronavirus pandemic, various agencies are offering special grants
and assistance programs to help eligible residential customers with
their utility payments, rent, or mortgage. Visit
https://www.compass.state.pa.us for information on the Emergency
Rental Assistance Program. Homeowners should visit
https://www.phfa.org/.
For a complete list of assistance programs for which customers
may be eligible, including installment payment plans and budget
billing, please visit www.firstenergycorp.com/billassist, or call
customer service:
Met-Ed
1-800-545-7741
Penelec
1-800-545-7741
Penn
Power 1-800-720-3600
West Penn
Power 1-800-686-0021
Met-Ed serves about 560,000 customers within 3,300 square miles
of eastern and southeastern Pennsylvania. Follow Met-Ed on Twitter @Met
Ed and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MetEdElectric.
Penelec serves nearly 600,000 customers within 17,600 square
miles of northern and central Pennsylvania. Follow Penelec on Twitter
@Penelec and on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/PenelecElectric.
Penn Power serves approximately 163,000 customers within 1,100
square miles of western Pennsylvania. Follow Penn Power on Twitter
@Penn Power, and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PennPower.
West Penn Power serves approximately 720,000 customers within
10,400 square miles of central and southwestern Pennsylvania. Follow West Penn Power on
Twitter @W_Penn_Power and on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/WestPennPower.
FirstEnergy is dedicated to integrity, safety, reliability and
operational excellence. Its 10 electric distribution companies form
one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems,
serving customers in Ohio,
Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West
Virginia, Maryland and
New York. The company's
transmission subsidiaries operate approximately 24,000 miles of
transmission lines that connect the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic
regions. Follow FirstEnergy online at www.firstenergycorp.com.
Follow FirstEnergy on Twitter: @FirstEnergyCorp.
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SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp.