Low-Income Gas Discount Approved in NH

Starting November 1, about 7,000 low-income gas customers in New Hampshire will be able to receive a discount on the delivery portion of their gas bills averaging about $200 per year.

The New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission (PUC) on September 1 approved an order creating a one-year pilot program for qualifying customers of Keyspan Energy Delivery and Northern Utilities. Customers who qualify for one of 13 means-tested programs, including LIHEAP and the state’s Electric Assistance Program, are eligible for the pilot. Keyspan estimated its program costs to be about $1.1 million and Northern estimated its costs at $267,000. Keyspan expects about 6,000 of its low-income customers to participate and Northern expects about 1,000. The majority of the state’s low-income, about 66 percent, heat with fuel oil or other delivered fuels and about 20 percent heat with natural gas.

In a press release, the PUC noted that the low-income program, which was supported by commission staff, the Office of Consumer Advocate, the Governor's Office of Energy and Planning, the New Hampshire Community Action Agencies and New Hampshire Legal Assistance, "is a worthy policy measure, particularly in a time of rapidly escalating energy prices."

Source: New Hampshire PUC

Page Last Updated: December 7, 2005