PUC: “Prepare Now” for winter heating season

(Harrisburg) — The state Public Utility Commission is launching its annual “Prepare Now” initiative to encourage utilities and consumers to get ready for winter heating bills.

PUC spokeswoman Denise McCracken says help is available for those with low and limited incomes.

“Every utility is required to have what’s called a customer assistance program,” she says. “These are low-income programs for consumers who are having trouble paying their bills. We encourage the utilities to help their customers, but we also encourage the customers to reach out to their utilities.”

McCracken says most utilities also offer budget billing programs designed to help consumers spread their payments more evenly throughout the year.

With early predictions calling for a colder than normal winter, she says easy and inexpensive ways can be found to save on monthly heating bills, such as sealing drafty doors and windows.