AARP survey finds New
Yorkers struggling with high heating costs; AARP, PULP urge
state lawmakers to provide immediate relief for low-income
and older New Yorkers
ALBANY, N.Y., Jan. 9 /U.S.
Newswire/ -- With home heating costs soaring this winter, a
new AARP survey finds that most New Yorkers are worried
about being able to bear the cost of their home energy
bills. The survey, released by AARP today, focuses on
consumer concerns about coping with high energy bills.
Key survey findings:
-- Over 80 percent of New
Yorkers are concerned about being able to afford the cost of
heating their homes this winter.
-- Nearly 20 percent have
delayed buying necessities such as food or prescription
drugs so that they could pay their bill.
-- 83 percent support
providing low-income households with assistance from the
State when Federal programs don't provide enough help.*
"High energy costs mean
those least likely to bear the blow -- the older and
low-income population -- will be hit the hardest. New York
State has got to do more to help them," said Lois Aronstein,
AARP New York State Director. "Our state should take the
unprecedented step and provide a first fist-time state
allocation to the federal Home Energy Assistance Program."
AARP and PULP are
requesting that the Governor and Legislature enact a State
emergency spending bill to provide up to $291 million in
immediate help to the elderly and low-income households to
heat their homes. The bill would be the first time New York
State would supplement the federally funded Home Energy
Assistance Program (HEAP). While HEAP currently provides
grants of up to $400, more funds are urgently needed to help
New Yorkers with soaring home heating costs.
"Energy price spikes
reported in the news over the last four months are showing
up in customers' bills today," said Ben Wiles, Senior
Attorney at the Public Utility Law Project. "With no help
coming from Washington and low-income customers worried
about the difficulties they'll have, the need for immediate
action by State policymakers could not be stronger."
While older persons use
about the same amount of energy as younger people, they tend
to devote a higher percentage of their total spending on
heating their homes. In fact, one out of every four
low-income older persons spends about 20 percent or more of
their total income on home energy bills.
-- The survey is available
upon request by calling AARP at 518-447-6723. Margin of
error is plus or minus 3.8 percent.
AARP has over 2.6 million
members in New York State. AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan
membership organization dedicated to making life better for
people 50 and over. AARP provides information and resources;
engages in legislative, regulatory and legal advocacy;
assists members in serving their communities; and offers a
wide range of unique benefits, special products, and
services for its members. These include AARP The Magazine,
published bimonthly; AARP Bulletin, a monthly newspaper;
Segunda Juventud, a quarterly newspaper in Spanish; Live and
Learn, a quarterly newsletter for National Retired Teachers
Association members; and a Web site,
http://www.aarp.org.
AARP has staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of
Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The Public Utility Law
Project is a not-for-profit legal advocacy organization.
PULP represents residential low income and rural consumers
seeking to advance universal service, affordability, and
consumer protection in utility, telecommunications and
energy-related matters. More information concerning PULP and
its work can be found at the PULP website --
http://www.pulp.tc.