For Immediate Release
January 21, 2009
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Tomlinson, McIlhinney to Host Bucks County Heating Assistance Event

NEWTOWN – State Senators Tommy Tomlinson (R-Bucks) and Chuck McIlhinney (R-Bucks and Montgomery) will host a consumer education event Friday to promote heating assistance programs available to Bucks County residents.

"Prepare Now to Stay Warm" will provide families with important information on programs to help low-income households, as well as helpful tips for all people to lower energy costs. The event will be held this Friday from 10:30 a.m. until noon at Bucks County Community College in Tyler Hall 142. The program will be offered in partnership with the United Way of Bucks County and the Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission.

"I urge all residents to take some advantage of this program, particularly as we head into the coldest winter months.  Learning about financial assistance as well as how to conserve energy are  important tools for our residents," Tomlinson said.

The event will include information on Pennsylvania's "Turn Down, Seal Off, Save Up" campaign that encourages consumers to conserve energy during winter months when utility bills are typically higher. Information will also be available about the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), a program that offers cash and crisis grants to low-income families to pay energy bills or fix heating equipment. 

"Heating costs are a problem for many people across the Commonwealth, and we need to try to address the problem from every angle," McIlhinney said. "Today's event gives legislators, consumer advocates and energy providers a chance to show every homeowner how to reduce energy bills and apply for assistance to prevent a heating crisis."

The event will also feature a panel discussion including the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare, the Bucks County Office of Consumer Protection, the Bucks County Opportunity Council, Keystone HELP, the Office of the Consumer Advocate and PECO Energy Company. Consumers will be given the opportunity to ask panel participants one-on-one questions following the event.

Contact:

Bruce McLanahan (Senator Tomlinson)
(717) 787-5072
Heather Cevasco (Senator McIlhinney)
(215)-489-5000