Resolution 080809

..Title Urging the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to provide supplemental state funds to the federally-funded Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program ("LIHEAP"), adopt the recommendation of the LIHEAP Advisory Committee, and spend all available LIHEAP funds during the program year in which it was appropriated. ..Body WHEREAS, The Philadelphia Gas Works' ("PGW") rates are the highest in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and these high rates include substantial expenses for uncollectible billings and programs that provide rate discounts to low-income and senior citizen customers; and WHEREAS, The federal government recently released $5.1 billion dollars for LIHEAP and Pennsylvania will receive approximately $308 million dollars, a 100% increase in funding from prior years; and WHEREAS, Even with a 100% increase, federal energy assistance to Pennsylvania is only sufficient to provide funds to 60% of all households who are qualified to receive assistance under federal guidelines, both statewide and within Philadelphia; and WHEREAS, Pennsylvania is only one of two cold weather states in the Northeast and Midwest that does not regularly provide supplemental assistance to households that qualify for LIHEAP; now, therefore be it RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we hereby urge the Commonwealth to adopt the recommendation of the LIHEAP Advisory Committee and allocate at least $30 million of the federal LIHEAP funds for low-income utility customers that are not eligible for Crisis grants but are in danger of losing utility service as of April 1. FURTHER RESOLVED, That we hereby urge the Commonwealth to appropriate approximately $40 million in supplemental state funds to LIHEAP and become a substantial partner in the federal LIHEAP leveraging program. RESOLVED FURTHER, That we hereby urge the Commonwealth to spend all available LIHEAP funds during the program year in which it was appropriated. FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be sent to the Governor as a representation of the true wishes and sincere sentiments of this legislative body. ..End