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Heading to Washington, D.C., to Protect Energy Assistance Funding

Year round our Customer Advocacy team works directly with customers to assist them in identifying resources that can help support their energy needs; but once a year, they put aside their day job and travel to Washington, D.C., ensuring the funding that is vital to their work is continued.

As part of this year’s Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Action Day, hosted by the National Energy and Utility Affordability Coalition, Delmarva Power employees Cindy Ventresca, Enid Wallace Simms, and Mike Hoy spent two days in the nation’s capital advocating for policies that protect funding for the LIHEAP program. They shared stories of their day-to-day work with elected officials and policymakers to demonstrate the program’s value for vulnerable households in Delaware and Maryland.

“We spend a lot of our time reaching out to customers across our service area at a variety of community forums and through our work with community partner organizations,” said Mike Hoy, senior community relations specialist for Delmarva Power. “LIHEAP Action Day gives us a great opportunity to tell these stories and make sure our representatives know how important this funding is to the people we serve.”

It’s been another cold winter on the Delmarva Peninsula, which for some means it’s a struggle to manage energy bills. Energy assistance is still available in Delaware and Maryland to help pay for winter energy bills. LIHEAP provides up to $1,000 in grant support per customer, depending on a household’s income, size and type of fuel, with no pay back required.

Delmarva Power customers in Delaware can apply for LIHEAP energy assistance by visiting the Department of Health and Services website or by calling 302-644-9295 in New Castle County, 302-674-1782 in Kent County, or 302-856-6310 in Sussex County. In Maryland, customers can apply for LIHEAP energy assistance through the Department of Human Services website, by visiting a Local Energy Assistance Office, or by calling the Office of Home Energy Programs at 1-800-332-6347. Applications for LIHEAP are due March 31 in Delaware and June 30 in Maryland.

In addition to LIHEAP, there are many other programs and tips available to help our customers save money and manage their energy needs. Customers who may be struggling to make a payment should contact us as soon as possible at 1-800-375-7117.