Qualified households may apply for grants towards their utility bills through Aug. 31, 2020 through the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), a federally funded program that provides both reg­ular and emergency financial assistance to help pay cooling and heating bills. The grants are available through local Department of Social Services (DSS) offices and Offices for the Aging. Customers of Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corp. who receive a HEAP benefit toward their ac­count will also be issued a monthly credit on their utility bill for a max­imum of 12 months based on service type and amount of HEAP benefit.

Qualified customers may also be eligible for a Cooling Assistance Benefit for the purchase and installation of an air conditioner or a fan to help the home stay cool during the summer months. Cooling Assistance benefits are available for HEAP eligible households containing at least one individual with a documented medical condition that is exacerbated by extreme heat.

"We're pleased this program has once again been extended to offer additional assistance to families who may be struggling, and encourage all eligible households to apply," said Charles A. Freni, President and C.E.O. of Central Hudson. The program, set to expire on March 16, was extended until June 30 and again to August 31 or until funds are exhausted.

Freni explained that qualified families using electricity or natural gas as their primary heating source may receive a regular HEAP benefit $350 or more, depending on family income and size guidelines, applied toward their Central Hudson account. Eligible customers will also receive a credit on their utility bills that provide further assistance in lowering their energy costs, based on the type of heating source and income level.

Qualified households receiving a HEAP benefit for non-utility heating fuels such as oil, propane, wood/wood pellets, kero­sene, coal or corn are also eligible for a monthly credit on their electric or non-heating gas bill. To receive the bill credit, customers should email their HEAP Notice of Decision Letter to Central Hudson at CareUnit@cenhud.com to be enrolled.

An additional benefit, the Heating Equipment Repair or Replacement (HERR) program, is available to assist income qualified homeowners in repairing or replacing their primary heating equipment when the systems are inoper­able or unsafe. Applications for HERR are accepted through Sept. 30, 2020, or until the funding is ex­hausted.

To apply for HEAP, Cooling, Clean & Tune and HERR benefits, customers may contact their local DSS office, call (800) 342-3009, or visit www.mybenefits.ny.gov. In­dividuals who are 60 and older and do not receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits may contact their local Office for the Aging to learn of the eligibil­ity requirements by calling (800) 342-9871 or by visiting www.aging.ny.gov.

In addition to bill discounts for HEAP benefit recipients, Central Hudson offers other customer assistance and payment programs. For more information on HEAP eligibility requirements and benefits, visit www.CentralHudson.com/HEAP or http://otda.ny.gov/programs/heap/program.asp; and for more on all of Central Hudson's assistance and billing programs, visit www.CentralHudson.com, and click on "My Account."

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The federally funded Home Energy Assistance Program provides both reg­ular and emergency financial assistance to eligible households to help pay heating and utility bills. Income qualifications by household size for the 2019-2020 fall-winter season is indicated in the table below:

2019-2020 HEAP Monthly Income Limits

Your total household gross monthly income for your household size must be at or below the following guidelines:

Questions regarding the HEAP program should be directed to your HEAP Local District Contact or the OTDA Hotline at 1-800-342-3009.