Category: Weatherization

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

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

Residents in a seven-county area may qualify to get their heating unit repaired or replaced at no cost now through August, thanks to CARES Act funds awarded to SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG)

The Cold Weather Crisis program normally ends April 10, but with the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a new program open from May 18 through Aug. 31 or until funds are spent. It is called the LIHEAP Recovery Crisis Program.

Mandy Fox, chief of SEDA-COG’s Weatherization program, said the timing is crucial for many families.

“This is a benefit to those who may have lost their jobs or substantial income due to the pandemic and may not have qualified when the regular Cold Weather Crisis program closed,” Fox said.

The $159,000 CARES funds awarded to SEDA-COG is to repair or replace heating units.

SEDA-COG’s program is for those who qualify for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) in Columbia, Juniata, Mifflin, Montour, Perry, Snyder, and Union counties.

For those whose heat source is malfunctioning, they should call their county assistance office. The county assistance office will forward the completed referral to SEDA-COG to assign to a subcontractor.

SEDA-COG and its subcontractors will follow Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines and use the proper Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) during home visits. SEDA-COG asks those who have been sick, have symptoms, or have been in contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19 that they reschedule their appointments.

COUNTY ASSISTANCE OFFICES

• Columbia: 570-387-4200
• Juniata: 717-436-2158
• Mifflin: 717-248-6746
• Montour: 570-275-7430
• Perry: 1-800-991-1929
• Snyder: 570-374-8126
• Union: 570-524-2201

For more information on the recovery program, call SEDA-COG’s Christine Bohart at 570-522-7219 or visit https://bit.ly/2WV26pJ.