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Going to The Hill to Protect Energy Assistance Funding

Year round our Customer Advocacy team works directly with customers to assist them in identifying resources that can help support their energy needs; but once a year, they elevate their advocacy and take on Capitol Hill ensuring the funding that is vital to their work is continued.

As part of this year’s Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Action Day, hosted by the National Energy and Utility Affordability Coalition, Pepco employees spent two days on Capitol Hill advocating for policies that protect funding for the LIHEAP program. They shared stories of their day-to-day work with elected officials and policymakers to demonstrate the program’s value for vulnerable households in the District of Columbia and Maryland.

“We spend a lot of our time engaging our customers across our service area at a variety of community forums and through our work with stakeholders and community partner organizations,” said Felecia Greer, director & customer advocate for Pepco Holdings. “LIHEAP Action Day gives us a great opportunity to tell these stories face-to-face and make sure our representatives know how important this funding is to our customers.”

It’s been another cold winter in our service area, which for some means it’s a struggle to manage energy bills. Energy assistance is still available in the District of Columbia and Maryland to help pay for winter energy bills. LIHEAP provides up to $1,000 in grant support per customer, depending on a household’s income, size and type of fuel, with no pay back required.

District residents can apply for assistance online though the Department of Energy and the Environment website or by calling 3-1-1. Maryland customers can apply for LIHEAP energy assistance through the Department of Human Services website, by visiting a Local Energy Assistance Office, or by calling the Maryland Department of Human Services Office of Home Energy Programs at 1-800-332-6347.

In addition to LIHEAP, there are many other programs and tips available to help our customers save money and manage their energy needs. Customers who may be struggling to make a payment should contact us as soon as possible at 202-833-7500.