Record number of families without heat

Chad Quinn, CEO of Dollar Energy Fund, was recently interviewed for a Tribune-Review story about Pennsylvania households without heat. While Pennsylvania has experienced a mild winter to date, the number of PA households that entered the winter without utility heat or unsafe heating sources hit a new record this year.

The Public Utility Commission’s (PUC) annual Cold Weather Survey, based on reports from gas and electric utilities, “showed 24,175 occupied households without service or relying on unsafe sources in December, up from 17,400 at the same point in 2005 and 12,124 in 2001.”

This is the highest level in 14 years. The Tribune article discusses a number of reasons that we’ve seen more families enter the season without heat. Despite, or in light of, the statistics, Dollar Energy Fund is working harder than ever to provide utility assistance grants to families in need. Since our program began October 1, 2015, we’ve performed 946 service restorations and have granted $1,033,773 to more than 3,000 households in Pennsylvania, alone. 

You can help us continue to provide crucial, immediate financial relief to families who are struggling to restore or maintain safe utility service. You can donate at any time via telephone, mail or our website, or you can join us in the 2016 Cool Down for Warmth Jan. 28 and 29 in Market Square. Those who donate during the days of the Cool Down for Warmth, or the upcoming Warmathon, can receive special promotions and incentives.