SEDA-COG Offers Clean & Tune Service at No Cost for Qualified Individuals

With colder weather approaching, SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG) is continuing to offer the LIHEAP Clean and Tune program for residents.

This program is a benefit available to provide homeowners and residents the assistance to maintain their new or repaired heating systems and to avoid interruption.

Annual servicing of your heating system will allow them to perform better and ensures your family’s safety. The more efficient the heating system runs, the lower your energy bills will be.

Heating systems should be serviced yearly to keep them running smoothly, improve their life span and heating efficiency. It provides general service with the goal of preventing crisis calls.

Residents should contact their local county assistance office to see if they qualify for this program.

Mandy Fox, chief of SEDA-COG’s Weatherization program, said, “Annual servicing of your furnace is necessary to ensure the safety of you and your family. It is no different than having your vehicle inspected annually.” Last year, there were 210 homes that capitalized on these funds. 

SEDA-COG’s Weatherization program serves a seven-county area: Columbia, Juniata, Mifflin, Montour, Perry, Snyder, and Union.

If residents don’t qualify for Clean & Tune assistance, they may still qualify for SEDA-COG’s Weatherization services. SEDA-COG’s Weatherization services may provide furnace repair, although it is not immediate help, as it would be through Crisis. SEDA-COG’s Weatherization program can be reached at 570-522-7219.

Crisis Income Eligibility Guidelines

Family size: 1 – $20,385; 2 – $27,465​; 3 – $34,545; 4 – $41,625; 5 – $48,705; 6 – $55,785; 7 – $62,865; 8 – $69,945​.

County Assistance Offices

Columbia: 570-387-4232

Juniata: 717-436-2158

Mifflin: 717-242-6095

Montour: 1-866-410-2093

Perry: 717-582-5038

Snyder: 570-372-1721

Union: 570-524-2201

SEDA-COG is a community and economic development agency in Lewisburg and is one of seven Local Development Districts in Pennsylvania. SEDA-COG enhances the quality of life and economic advantage for residents and businesses in the 11 central Pennsylvania counties through its vital partnerships and initiatives.

SEDA-COG Weatherization Receives Additional UGI Funding

The Weatherization program at SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG) has received additional funding from UGI to help residents of our area not only stay warm this winter, but to prepare their homes for cold weather throughout the year. This program improves energy usage within the entire house at no cost.

The Low-Income Usage Reduction Program (LIURP) provides energy saving improvements to qualifying households to help reduce their utility bills and/or usage. This program presents no cost to qualifying UGI customers. It allows residents a safer living environment with a warmer home during the heating season and a cooler home during the summer. After the home energy evaluation, the following conservation services and/or equipment may include: insulation, air sealing, heating system repairs, furnace clean, tune, and safety inspection, door and window caulking and weather stripping, or carbon monoxide and smoke alarms.

SEDA-COG’s coverage includes three different areas of our region: Penn North (PNG), Electric Riders – Penn North, and Central Penn (CPG). PNG covers the following counties: Columbia, Lycoming, Northumberland, Snyder, Montour, and Luzerne. CPG covers Huntingdon, Lycoming, Mifflin, Northumberland, and Union counties.

UGI has granted a budget of $567,000 to PNG, $467,500 to CPG, and $10,000 to Electric Riders.

Mandy Fox, chief of SEDA-COG’s Weatherization program, said, “This new funding offers people more opportunities to weatherize their homes and stay prepared for whatever weather comes our way.”

To qualify for LIURP services, residents must meet the following requirements:
• An active UGI residential gas heating or electric account
• 12 consecutive billing periods
• Higher than average gas or electric usage within the past 12 months
o 950 CCFs (UGI GAS)
o 6,000 Kwh (Electric Non-Heating)
o 12,788 Kwh (Electric Heat)
• Gross annual income within the 150% of the Federal Poverty Level
• If renting, written permission from the landlord to proceed

LIURP Household Income
150% Federal Poverty Guidelines 2022-2023

Household Members | Annual Income | Monthly Income | Weekly Income
1 $20,385 $1,699 $392
2 $27,465 $2,289 $528
3 $34,545 $2,879 $664
4 $41,625 $3,469 $800
5 $48,705 $4,059 $937
6 $55,785 $4,649 $1,073
7 $62,865 $5,239 $1,209
8 $69,945 $5,829 $1,345
Above 8 +$7,080/person +$590/person +$136/person

To reach out and get signed up for LIURP, residents can call 800-844-9276, email liurpteam@ugi.com, or visit www.ugi.com/assistance=programs/liurp.

If residents don’t qualify for LIURP services, they may still qualify for SEDA-COG Weatherization’s LIHEAP or Crisis assistance. SEDA-COG’s Weatherization program can be reached at 570-522-7219.

SEDA-COG is a community and economic development agency in Lewisburg and is one of seven Local Development Districts in Pennsylvania. SEDA-COG enhances the quality of life and economic advantage for residents and businesses in the 11 central Pennsylvania counties through its vital partnerships and initiatives.

For more information, please contact Elaine Stauder, communications coordinator, SEDA-Council of Governments, at 570-522-7429 or estauder@seda-cog.org

SEDA-COG Offers Two Programs at No Cost for Home Heating Assistance

With colder weather upon us, SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG) is continuing to offer Crisis program to residents who qualify for fuel assistance, the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP.) This program repairs malfunctioning heating units at no cost.

Additionally, American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) stimulus funds are being used to offer a new service, the LIHEAP Clean and Tune Pilot program for residents. Clean & Tune is a benefit available to assist homeowners and residents in cleaning and tuning their primary heating equipment and avoiding interruptions to their heating service. It will provide general service with the goal of preventing crisis calls due to loss of heating. Homeowners and residents must qualify for fuel assistance.

Residents should contact their local county assistance office to see if they qualify for these programs. It is not guaranteed that this clean and tune service will be offered next year, so it is highly encouraged to take advantage of the program while it’s available. The application period is open now through May 6, 2022.

Mandy Fox, chief of SEDA-COG’s Weatherization program, said, “With the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on employment, people who normally wouldn’t qualify for the Crisis program might this year. We encourage people to contact their local county assistance office to see if they qualify.”

SEDA-COG’s Weatherization program serves a seven-county area: Columbia, Juniata, Mifflin, Montour, Perry, Snyder, and Union.

If residents don’t qualify for LIHEAP or Crisis assistance, they may still qualify for SEDA-COG’s Weatherization services. SEDA-COG’s Weatherization services may provide furnace repair, although it is not immediate help, as it would be through Crisis. SEDA-COG’s Weatherization program can be reached at 570-522-7219.

Crisis Income Eligibility Guidelines

Family size: 1 – $19,320; 2 – $26,130; 3 – $32,940; 4 – $39,750; 5 – $46,560; 6 – $53,370; 7 – $60,180; 8 – $66,990.

County Assistance Offices
Columbia: 570-387-4232
Juniata: 717-436-2158
Mifflin: 717-242-6095
Montour: 1-866-410-2093
Perry: 717-582-5038
Snyder: 570-372-1721
Union: 570-524-2201

SEDA-COG is a community and economic development agency in Lewisburg and is one of seven Local Development Districts in Pennsylvania. SEDA-COG enhances the quality of life and economic advantage for residents and businesses in the 11 central Pennsylvania counties through its vital partnerships and initiatives.

For more information, please contact Elaine Stauder, communications coordinator, SEDA-Council of Governments, at 570-522-7429 or estauder@seda-cog.org.

SEDA-COG… Building Strong Economies & Strong Communities www.seda-cog.org

SEDA-COG offers two programs at no cost for home heating assistance

With colder weather arriving, SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG) will again offer the Crisis program to residents who qualify for fuel assistance, the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). This program repairs malfunctioning heating units at no cost.

Additionally, American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) stimulus funds will be used to offer a new service, the LIHEAP Clean and Tune Pilot program for residents. The goal of this program is to perform preventative maintenance services on residents’ primary heating equipment.

Residents should contact their local county assistance office to see if they qualify for these programs. They are being offered from October 18, 2021 through May 6, 2022.

SEDA-COG’s Weatherization program serves a seven-county area: Columbia, Juniata, Mifflin, Montour, Perry, Snyder, and Union.

If residents don’t qualify for LIHEAP or Crisis assistance, they may still qualify for SEDA-COG’s Weatherization services. SEDA-COG’s Weatherization services may provide furnace repair, although it is not immediate help, as it would be through Crisis. SEDA-COG’s Weatherization program can be reached at 570-522-7219.

Crisis Income Eligibility Guidelines

Family size:

  • 1 – $19,320;
  • 2 – $26,130;
  • 3 – $32,940;
  • 4 – $39,750;
  • 5 – $46,560;
  • 6 – $53,370;
  • 7 – $60,180;
  • 8 – $66,990​.

County Assistance Offices

  • Columbia: 570-387-4232
  • Juniata: 717-436-2158
  • Mifflin: 717-242-6095
  • Montour: 1-866-410-2093
  • Perry: 717-582-5038
  • Snyder: 570-372-1721
  • Union: 570-524-2201

As a community and economic development agency, SEDA-COG enhances the quality of life and economic advantage for residents and businesses in 11 central Pennsylvania counties through its vital partnerships and initiatives.

SEDA-COG also is an advocate for the interests of its communities at the state and federal levels. .