Concerned about rising heat and electric costs? This East Bay organization is here to help

NEWPORT — The cost of electricity provided by Rhode Island Energy is slated to double from the current summer period to the six-month cycle that started Oct. 1 leaving many Rhode Islanders to brace for a big spike in energy bills.

One program designed specifically to keep people afloat in the face of rising heat and electricity costs is East Bay Community Action Program's Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).

The seasonal program runs from Oct. 1 to April 30, 2023, and consists of a one-time supplemental grant sent directly to vendors who then credit the qualifying client’s account for the amount specified. Eligible clients also qualify for a reduced electric rate and a discount on their telephone bills.

“LIHEAP is a great resource for low-income families in Newport County, who will be greatly affected by (Rhode Island Energy’s) rate increase," EBCAP communications associate Catherine Norton told The Daily News via email. "As often happens to those living near or below poverty level, cost of living increases force them to choose between paying rent, staying warm or keeping the lights on.

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"EBCAP’s LIHEAP provides assistance to low-income families by reducing their home heating bills and connecting them to other essential services to ensure their health and well-being.”

How much will electric bills increase in RI?

According to The Providence Journal, under rates filed in July 2022 with state regulators by Rhode Island Energy, the bill for a typical household using 500 kilowatt hours of power per month will jump from about $111 to more than $163, a 47% bump.

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Commercial customers, whose usage varies, will experience bill hikes ranging from about 41% to 51%. The rate hike reflects wholesale electric prices and, by law, includes no mark-up by Rhode Island Energy.

“During our 2022 season, we assisted 2,964 households in the East Bay area, including Newport County, East Providence and other areas as well,” said Kristen Ryan, EBCAP’s director of LIHEAP and safety net services. “One-thousand, one-hundred and four of those households that received assistance were from the Newport County area.”

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The support EBCAP disbursed to vendors on behalf of LIHEAP clients amount to $2.1 million dollars last heating season, according to Ryan. The money for the program is provided by the federal government, and Ryan said in her 14 years working for EBCAP she has never seen the program run out of funding.

Who is eligible for heat and energy bill assistance?

Rhode Island residents are income-eligible for LIHEAP when the household's gross income is equal to or less than 60% of the State Median Income (SMI) for their household size. That would be $65,460 for a household of four, according to the state’s LIHEAP income eligibility guidelines.

Applicants must also submit documents that serve as proof of energy expense, identity, residence and income.

One notable exception to the income eligibility requirement is for students ages 18-23. For these students, income will not be considered in eligibility determination if they provide a copy of a full-time class schedule and a paid invoice with their application. If these documents are not available, confirmation of full-time student status from the school written on school letterhead will also be accepted.

“I definitely think there are households we’re not capturing at this point that would be eligible,” Ryan said. “They might not know about the program, or we do have some times where clients are just kind of nervous to apply … (due to) the documents they have to provide.”

How to apply in RI for heat and electric bill assistance

To apply for LIHEAP, people can complete an online application or call the EBCAP office at 401-437-1000, Ext. 6606. For returning clients, a renewal application was mailed to their listed address with instructions.

Angela Downing, EBCAP’s director of workforce development and social services, mentioned EBCAP also has a physical presence in Newport for individuals who might feel more comfortable talking to somebody in person to inquire about the program or ask for help completing the application.

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“We have some different sites in Newport,” she said. “We have (the Florence Gray Center), we have 19 Broadway. We have places where clients can have a point of contact with us.”

In addition to being pegged to household size and income, the supplemental grant provided through LIHEAP varies depending on the energy source used by the household.

A family of four making the maximum eligible income of $65,460 and heating its home with gas from Rhode Island Energy likely would receive the minimum grant of $355. The gas grants this season range from $355 to $520, while grants for electric range from $533 to $780 and grants for deliverables such as oil range from $981 to $1,285.

To learn more or apply for LIHEAP, visit ebcap.org/programs/heating-and-energy.

This article originally appeared on Newport Daily News: Electric, heating bill assistance available at EBCAP in Newport RI