Exelon Advocates for Low-Income Customers; Urges Congress to Increase LIHEAP Funding
February 23 2022 - 8:00AM
Business Wire
Company’s six
utilities participate in National LIHEAP Action Day meetings
sponsored by the National Energy & Utility Affordability
Coalition (NEAUC)
Exelon Corporation (Nasdaq: EXC) today urged Congress to fund
the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) at the
highest level possible. This increase would further help ensure
home heating and cooling needs are met for more than 6 million
American households struggling financially and challenged with
paying their energy and other bills.
Advocacy during the all-virtual National LIHEAP Action Day,
sponsored by the National Energy & Utility Affordability
Coalition (NEAUC), was led by representatives from Exelon's six
utilities—Atlantic City Electric, BGE, ComEd, Delmarva Power, PECO
and Pepco—and dozens of other companies. In 2021, eligible
households across the country received $8 billion in LIHEAP funding
as a result of an additional $4.5 billion provided by the American
Rescue Plan. However, those additional funds will expire in
September 2022.
"Exelon strongly supports LIHEAP – an invaluable safety net for
customers – and we hope Congress will provide as much funding as
possible to aid those who are uncertain if they'll be able to pay
their home energy bills," said Calvin Butler, Exelon chief
operating officer and senior executive vice president. "Congress
cannot risk scaling back a lifeline to so many: energy insecure
families, older Americans, individuals with disabilities, and
children – especially at a time when the cost of everyday
necessities continues to move farther out of reach for our most
vulnerable neighbors."
Last year, Exelon's utilities connected more than 650,000
customers to $430 million in energy assistance, including LIHEAP
funding. A quarter of Exelon's 10 million customers have income
below the maximum level allowed under the expanded LIHEAP (200
percent of the federal poverty level). Many also are undocumented
individuals, new immigrants and non-English speakers who are more
difficult to reach with this important information.
Exelon recognizes that sustained access to a financial
backstop–and an innovative approach to getting the word out about
that assistance—helps customers prevent disconnection of service,
helps families maintain safe and stable housing, and restores
dignity by helping customers pay bills in full and on time.
For example, Pepco, PECO, Delmarva Power and Atlantic City
Electric conducted extensive community outreach campaigns during
the pandemic to help customers learn more about energy assistance
opportunities and partnered with trusted organizations and
community voices, local government and hospitals to reach tens of
thousands of customers in need. ComEd launched a Community Energy
Assistance Ambassador program that reached thousands of customers
and provided jobs for local residents. BGE and Pepco successfully
advocated for systemic policy changes to continue to support
low-to-moderate income customers and helped efficiently disseminate
an additional $83 million in relief for Maryland customers. And all
six Exelon utilities made it easier to sign up for assistance funds
and have those funds applied to customer accounts.
More information about National LIHEAP Action Day 2022 is
available at neuac.org.
About Exelon
Exelon (Nasdaq: EXC) is a Fortune
200 company and the nation’s largest utility company, serving more
than 10 million customers through six fully regulated transmission
and distribution utilities — Atlantic City Electric (ACE),
Baltimore Gas and Electric (BGE), Commonwealth Edison (ComEd),
Delmarva Power & Light (DPL), PECO Energy Company (PECO), and
Potomac Electric Power Company (Pepco). More than 18,000 Exelon
employees dedicate their time and expertise to supporting our
communities through reliable, affordable and efficient energy
delivery, workforce development, equity, economic development and
volunteerism. Follow Exelon on Twitter @Exelon.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220223005513/en/
Nick Alexopulos Corporate Communications
nicholas.alexopulos@exeloncorp.com Media hotline: 312-394-7417
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