State to receive $236 million to help energy costs

Albany — The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), which assists lower-income seniors and families with heating costs in the winter, began accepting applications on Nov. 1. Gov. George E. Pataki is urging all eligible New Yorkers to file their applications with their county’s department of social services beginning next week. He also called for the legislature to adopt his 9-point Strategic Energy Action Plan, unveiled in September, to help combat rising energy prices across the nation. HEAP is a federally funded program administered on the state level by the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance. The program is managed locally by county departments of social services and by the Human Resources Administration in New York City. HEAP provides grants for heating bills ranging from $40 to $400 depending on a household’s income, living arrangement, heating expenses, family members, and type of heat. Both renters and homeowners can be eligible for assistance. New York is scheduled to receive $236 million from the program. Due to skyrocketing fuel costs and an expected increase in demand, the governor has called on the federal government to allocate additional contingency funds that, if made available, would increase New York’s current share well beyond last season’s levels. He has also pledged $25 million in state funding if the federal government does not provide New York with supplemental funds. Last season 804,640 households were served through the regular component, and 165,022 through the emergency crisis component of the program. In 2003-04, 809,908 households received a regular benefit and 143,743 received emergency benefits. HEAP Income Eligibility Guidelines HS=Household Size MMI=Maximum Monthly Income MAI=Maximum Annual Income HS MMI MAI 1 $0 - 1,803 $21,636 2 0 - 2,358 28,296 3 0 - 2,913 34,956 4 0 - 3,468 41,616 5 0 - 4,022 48,264 6 0 - 4,577 54,924 7 0 - 4,681 56,172 8 0 - 4,785 57,420 9 0 - 4,889 58,668 10 0 - 4,993 59,916 11 0 - 5,273 63,276 New York is using the highest limit for income, the 60 percent of the median. New York’s HEAP program is designed to provide the highest benefit to those households with the lowest income, and highest energy costs in relation to income. Benefits are provided to households that have a larger percentage of their income spent on energy costs, contain a vulnerable individual, and have the lowest income. Vulnerable individuals are defined as children under 6, adults aged 60 or older, and disabled individuals. For more information on HEAP, contact the county’s Department of Social Services or call 1-800-342-3009. n Strategic Energy Action Plan In addition to HEAP, Pataki continued his push for the state to adopt his 9-point Strategic Energy Plan, saying it is vital that New York take action to minim: •Home heating tax credit for the elderly. The state would offer a refundable personal income tax credit for 25 percent of home heating expenses when total home heating expenses exceed 7.5 percent of income for the elderly. •Home energy assistance for elderly and low-income households - The state will request additional federal funds to supplement benefits provided under the Federal Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). •Tax credit for upgrades to home heating systems - A refundable personal income tax credit, up to $500, would be offered to homeowners for 50 percent of the costs related to the upgrade or renovation of a residential home heating system. •Sales tax free week for Energy Star - To encourage home energy conservation, two sales-tax-free weeks would be offered for the purchase of energy-efficient Energy Star appliances, weather stripping, caulk, or insulation. •Small business and farmer energy assistance - Small businesses and farmers would be provided a refundable credit equal to 25 percent of their heating and production costs, up to $3,000, if their energy costs exceed 10 percent (for small businesses) or 5 percent (for farms) of their overall operating costs. •Tax credit for alternative vehicles - The state would provide a refundable tax credit for individuals or corporations that purchase hybrid vehicles. The tax credits, up to $4,000 depending on vehicle weight, would be limited to individuals with incomes under $150,000. •Incentives for alternative fuel production - The state would offer a bio-fuel production tax credit, up to $1 million per taxable year, for costs associated with constructing a bio-fuel facility, or producing or storing bio-fuel. •Bulk purchasing of electricity - Authorize the state’s Office of General Services to buy electricity directly on the open market for use by the state and localities, and to supply alternative fuels to these entities. The bulk purchasing and energy supplies would create additional opportunities for overall energy cost-savings. •High occupancy vehicle lanes for alternative-fueled vehicles.