January 2009 Customer Connection
The following topics were covered in your issue of January's Customer Connection:
- WI Energy Assistance Programs
- Einstein Science Expo
- Simple Ways to Save Energy
- Recipe Corner: Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole
Other information included with your bill...
WI Energy Assistance Programs
Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program
You or someone you know may be eligible for help with home heating bills. The Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program (WHEAP) is a federally-funded program that helps eligible households pay a portion of their home heating costs. The amount of heating assistance benefit depends on the household's size, income and heating costs.
Who's Eligible
You may be eligible for assistance if your gross income for the last three months is less than the amount shown below for your family size.
| Household Size | 150% of Poverty Level |
|---|---|
| 1 | $3,900 |
| 2 | 5,250 |
| 3 | 6,600 |
| 4 | 7,950 |
| 5 | 9,300 |
| 6 | 10,650 |
| 7 | 12,000 |
| 8 | 13,350 |
For each additional person, add $1,350.
A few notes about WHEAP energy assistance:
- It's a one-time yearly benefit payment
- Benefits are normally available between October 1 and May 15
- You do not have to pay the money back
- It is not intended to cover the entire cost of heating your home
- Your heating assistance benefit may be sent directly to your fuel supplier
In addition to energy assistance, WHEAP provides the following assistance programs:
- Electric Assistance (Non-Heating) helps eligible households pay a portion of non-heating electric energy costs.
- Crisis Assistance provides assistance to households that have no heat, received a disconnect notice from their heating fuel dealer, or are nearly out of heating fuel and do not have any way to pay for their heating needs. Proactive non-emergency assistance is also available through the entire year to avoid future emergencies.
Winter Weatherization Program
You may receive assistance with weatherizing your home if you meet the WHEAP income eligibility guidelines. Weatherization may include caulking, weatherstripping and insulating.
Focus on Energy
If you're interested in finding out about additional assistance programs available to Wisconsin residents, contact Focus on Energy at 800-762-7077 or visit www.focusonenergy.com.
Contact Us
WPS wants to help you manage your monthly energy bill. We encourage you to enroll in Budget Billing, which spreads your energy charges out evenly over 12 months, helping you better manage energy costs. If you are interested in learning more about your energy use and managing your costs, visit Energy-Saving Tools & Ideas and All About My Bill. If you are experiencing payment difficulties, please call us at 800-450-7260. We're here to help.
For more information on applying for energy or weatherization assistance, please contact the agency in your county.
| County | Agency | Telephone Number |
|---|---|---|
| Brown | Integrated Community Services | 920-448-4540 |
| Calumet | Dept. of Human Services | 920-849-1622 |
| Door | Door County Job Center | 920-743-7273 |
| Florence | Dept. of Human Services | 715-528-3296 |
| Fond du Lac | Energy Services, Inc. | 800-506-5596 |
| Forest | NEWCAP | 715-478-3871 or 800-242-7334 |
| Kewaunee | Dept. of Human Services | 920-388-3777 |
| Langlade | Dept. of Human Services | 715-627-6500 |
| Lincoln | Dept. of Human Services | 715-536-6200 or 800-666-3119 |
| Manitowoc | Manitowoc County Job Center | 920-683-2888 |
| Marathon | Energy Services, Inc. | 715-842-3111 |
| Marinette | Dept. of Human Services | 715-732-7740 |
| Oconto | Dept. of Human Services | 920-834-7000 |
| Oneida | Dept. of Human Services | 715-362-5695 |
| Outagamie | Energy Services, Inc. | 800-506-5596 |
| Portage | Energy Services, Inc. | 715-344-5999 |
| Shawano | Forward Services | 715-526-4740 |
| Sheboygan | County Job Center | 920-459-3207 or 800-596-1919 |
| Vilas | Dept. of Human Services | 715-479-3668 |
| Waupaca | Energy Services, Inc. | 800-922-2393 |
| Winnebago | Energy Services, Inc. | 800-506-5596 |
| Tribal | ||
| Lac du Flambeau Tribal Office Reservations | 715-588-3303 | |
| Potawatomi Tribal Office | 715-478-7206 | |
| Mole Lake Tribal Office | 715-478-3265 | |
| Oneida Nation Social Services | 920-490-6800 or 888-216-3216 | |
Einstein Science Expo
Shopko Hall, Green Bay, WI
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Time: 9 a.m.- 4 p.m.
Tickets: $4 Children, $2 Adults
Wisconsin Public Service Science Fair
(Part of the Science Expo)
- Open to children grades 2-8
- Enter your individual, small group or class project exhibit
- Every entrant receives two free tickets to the Science Expo and a "goody bag"
- Prizes for winners grades 6-8
For more information, or to register, please visit Special Events or call Chris Kust, Einstein Project Science Fair Coordinator, at 920-884-8800.
Simple Ways to Save Energy
Though natural gas is a significant portion of your energy charges each month, there are plenty of ways you can keep control over how much you spend on heating this winter.
Try these energy-saving tips and you could see the savings add up.
- Lower Your Thermostat
- Typical homes stay warm and comfortable when their thermostats are set between 65° and 68°. For every degree you reduce your thermostat, you save more than $4 per month. Lower your thermostat 5°, and you'll cut about $22 from each monthly bill.
- Use Clean Filters
- Dirty filters make furnaces work harder and burn more natural gas to produce the same amount of heat. Replacing or cleaning your furnace filter monthly improves efficiency, saving almost $11 each month.
- Reduce Water Temperature
- If your natural gas water heater is set too high, it may be costing you extra money. Keep yours at 120° and save over $2 on your energy costs per month.
Savings are based on an average home with average energy use.
Try these to save even more energy:
- Insulate, insulate, insulate! Adding insulation to attic, wall and sill box areas, and special insulation made to go inside power outlets, are a few of the most effective, affordable ways to cut energy costs.
- Tune up your heating system. Just like your car, your furnace needs to be tuned up to run at peak performance. An annual inspection can improve efficiency by 1-2%.
- Caulk and weatherstrip. Heat often escapes through older windows and doors. Caulk around the edges of windows and weatherstrip around door edges to significantly reduce that loss.
- Turn on your ceiling fans. They increase air movement and warmth while saving money. Reversing the fan direction in winter pulls warmer air down to where people are.
- Take advantage of the heat from the sun. Open shades on the southern and eastern windows during the day. Close these shades when the sun goes down to keep the heat from escaping.
- Watch that thermostat. For every degree you lower it, you'll take about 1% off your bill. You'll stay comfortable at 65° to 68° during the day, and 60° at night.
Find even more Energy-Saving Tips.
Note: If you feel you'll have problems paying your monthly WPS bills, contact us as soon as possible, before your charges become too great. We'll work with you to see if we can come to an arrangement that satisfies your needs. Call 24-Hour Customer Service at 800-450-7260.
Recipe Corner: Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole
Prep time: 20 minutes
Baking temperature: 325°
Baking time: 1 ½ hours
- 6 chicken breast halves, deboned and skinned
- 6 slices of boiled ham, sliced medium
- 6 slices of Swiss cheese, sliced medium
- 1 can (10 ¾ oz.) cream of chicken soup
- ¼ cup water
- 2 cups croutons
- ½ cup butter, melted
In a 9" x 13" pan, layer chicken, ham and cheese. Mix soup and water and pour over layers.
Mix croutons and butter and put over the top of casserole. Bake uncovered.