State Rental Assistance Program Helps UI Customers Amid Pandemic

Press release from UI:

April 8, 2021

United Illuminating (UI), a subsidiary of AVANGRID, Inc. (NYSE: AGR), is partnering with UniteCT to assist eligible Connecticut residents who rent their homes or apartments and are facing financial challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The federally funded program, which is being administered by the Connecticut State Department of Housing, can provide up to $1,500 in electric utility assistance for qualifying residential renters.

It can also assist with past or future rental expenses and offers financial support for landlords as well.

You may qualify if:

• you rent your place of residence;
• at least one person in your household qualified for unemployment benefits due to the pandemic, or if they had their income reduced, had significant costs, or experienced other financial hardship as a result of COVID;
• your household income is at or below 80% of the area’s median income; or
• you are at risk for homelessness or housing instability.

To learn more about this program or to start your application, visit the UniteCT program website or call 844-864-8328.

More Help with Your Bill:

Whether you rent or own, you may be eligible for other programs to help pay your UI bill, including programs that would add to the amount of assistance received through UniteCT.
Customers eligible for “hardship” status can take advantage of the following programs:

• Arrearage Forgiveness Program: Available to residential electric heating customers who meet state income guidelines. Monthly payments can be reduced to as low as $50.
• UI Matching Payment Plan: Available to residential UI customers who can demonstrate financial hardship and have a balance of at least $500 that is 90 days or more overdue.
• Energy Assistance: Available to residential customers as payment toward your heating bill.

If you are not eligible for “hardship” status, assistance is still available. Any residential or business customer can enroll in the COVID-19 Payment Program. Payment plans up to 24 months are available to all customers, regardless of financial need. Enrolling in a payment plan or assistance program will prevent service disconnection.

To learn about available assistance, visit uinet.com or call 800-722-5584 (800-7-CALL-UI) weekdays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

This press release was produced by UI. The views expressed here are the author's own.