Mercer County Helps Residents In Need With Energy Costs

Mercer County offers assistance for energy costs for those who qualify, Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes said this week. Mercer County’s Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), offered in coordination with the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, allows individuals to apply for bill payment assistance, energy crisis assistance and energy-related home repairs.

LIHEAP is designed to help low-income families and individuals meet home heating and medically necessary cooling costs. To be eligible for LIHEAP benefits, the applicant household must be responsible for home heating or cooling costs, either directly or included in the rent; and have gross income at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level. An eligibility chart can be found on the Mercer County website at https://goo.gl/Lj6jCY.

“For many households, winter brings worry about the cost of heating and other energy bills,” Hughes said. “As this year’s program gets under way, I also urge our residents to look into simple ways they can reduce their energy costs such as using fluorescent light bulbs and weather-stripping doors and windows.”

The application period opens on Monday, Oct. 2, 2017, and runs through Monday, April 30, 2018. Applicants may register in Room 106 of the McDade Administration Building, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Wednesdays until 6:30 p.m. The McDade Administration Building is located at 640 South Broad Street in Trenton.

Applicants also may be served during specific hours at County Connection, Route 33 at Paxson Avenue, Hamilton. County Connection hours will be Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to noon by appointment only, and Saturdays, Oct. 7 and 21, Nov. 4 and 18, and Dec. 2 and 16, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome during the Saturday hours.

All Mercer County offices will be closed Monday, Oct. 9, for Columbus Day; Tuesday, Nov. 7, for Election Day; and Friday, Nov. 10, for Veterans Day. For more information, contact Home Energy Assistance at 609-989-6858 or 989-6959.

Image via Shutterstock