Feb. 26, 2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Janet Howard-Joseph
678-406-0212
info@heatga.org

Cold Weather Burns Up H.E.A.T. Funds for Low-Income Georgians - MORE FUNDS ARE NEEDED

ATLANTA, Ga. (Feb. 26, 2003) - Low-income families, squeezed by higher fuel prices and record cold temperatures that caused them to use more heat, have increased their requests for help from the Heating Energy Assistance Team (HEAT) Inc. fund, and the nonprofit organization is asking for donations to help low-income Georgians heat their homes for the rest of the winter.

HEAT and the Georgia Department of Human Resources are receiving almost 200 calls a day, up about 40 percent this month over last month, said says Janet Howard-Joseph, HEAT's executive director.

"With higher fuel prices and colder than average temperatures, this winter has posed new challenges to our state residents in paying their heating bills," she said. "We're seeing signs of spring, but Georgians know that Old Man Winter isn't done with us yet."

HEAT provided more than $383,000 to the Georgia Department of Human Resources (DHR) to assist Georgians who are unable to pay their energy bills. Funding for this "team" effort came from private citizens, natural gas marketers, United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta and Atlanta Gas Light Company. The natural gas marketers — SCANA Energy, Georgia Natural Gas, Southern Company Gas and Shell Energy — along with their customers provided major funding. Additional support came from GasKey and its customers, as well as the customers of Energy America.

According to Joyce Hull, DHR State Energy Program director, HEAT funds have helped 1,837 households this winter, but more money is needed.

"We have almost 30,000 households statewide waiting to apply for assistance, and DHR has funding on hand that will serve only about a third of those," said Hull. "The department could not have been as responsive to the increase in the number of people needing help were it not for the HEAT donation and funds from the Georgia Public Service Commission."

Tax-deductible donations may be made to HEAT, c/o Wachovia Bank, P.O. Box 930112, Atlanta, GA 31193. Customers of SCANA Energy and Energy America may make donations through their gas bills.

Since 1983, HEAT, which began as a program of Atlanta Gas Light Company, has distributed more than $13 million and assisted some 65,000 households. For more information about HEAT, please call 678-406-0212.