Mon., November 2, 2009 8:07am (EST)

Home Heating Help Begins

By Josephine Bennett

Updated: 4 years ago

MACON, Ga.  —   Georgians who need help heating their homes this winter can start looking for assistance today. The state's Energy Assistance Program is now accepting applications. Georgia is getting 70-million dollars from the federally funded program. The money will be given out to those who qualify until the money runs out. For a household of one that means an income limit of just over 21-thousand dollars a year. For the first month the program is limited to senior citizens and the disabled.

Nancy Smith is with Middle Georgia Community Action. She oversees the program in her region. She thinks demand for help will be high, and that people will apply for the 350-dollar payments early.

"The assistance is a one time check made payable to the heating vendor. If you've got electric heat it goes to your electric supplier. If you have propane heat it goes to your propane supplier."

Smith says there will be many this year who are qualifying for the first time. Meanwhile the state climatologist predicted a colder and wetter winter than normal for Georgia.