Governor M. Jodi Rell said today that the public is responding by the thousands for help and information on heating assistance and conservation programs the state is offering for this coming winter.

The Governor reported that since August 10:

·        The Department of Social Services has received 5,000 applications for heating aid;

·        The statewide helpline 2-1-1 has received more than 3,350 calls for information on energy assistance programs.

 “We knew full well that the unprecedented costs of heating homes and businesses will squeeze household budgets like never before,” Governor Rell said. “That is why I proposed and the Legislature enacted a broad-based assistance package intended to help more families this winter.”

The Governor said information on all the programs is available at a number of outlets, including a new state Web site. The easy-to-use Web site includes details on financial assistance for heating, furnace rebates, weatherization, tax incentives, energy conservation, clean energy programs and car-pooling opportunities. The Web site can be found by clicking on the “CT Energy Resources” icon on the State of Connecticut Web site at: www.ct.gov.

The site provides eligibility guidelines for Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), administered by DSS. The agency which historically has opened the application process in October, began nearly two months earlier this year.

  The Governor said citizens without Internet access, can call 2-1-1, the non-profit statewide information and referral helpline, for a list of heating aid and other energy programs. She said 2-1-1 officials are reporting a “staggering” number of phone calls in the last two weeks. The helpline has logged more than 3,350 fuel assistance calls since August 10, compared to 986 this time last year.

Details and applications for heating aid programs are also available at more than a dozen Community Action Agencies around the state (see list below).

“Information on these essential programs is very accessible. I encourage everyone to visit our new user-friendly site, phone 2-1-1 or visit a local Community Action Agency for answers to their questions on heating aid and energy conservation,” Governor Rell said.

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(Web site: www.ct.gov click on : “CT Energy Resources” icon.)

Community Action Agencies:

• The Community Action Committee of Danbury, Inc. (203) 748-5422
• New Opportunities, Inc. (Waterbury area) (203) 756-8151
• Bristol Community Organization, Inc. (860) 582-7490
• Human Resources Agency of New Britain, Inc. (860) 223-2288
• Community Renewal Team, Inc. (Hartford area) (860) 560-5800 or 1-800-798-3805; (Middletown area) (860) 347-4465 ext.223 or 224
• ACCESS, Inc. (Willimantic - Danielson area) (860) 450-7423
• Thames Valley Council for Community Action, Inc. (Norwich-New London area) (860) 425-6681
• New Opportunity for Greater Meriden (203) 235-0278 (sponsored by New Opportunities, Inc.)
• Community Action Agency of New Haven, Inc. (203) 387-7700
• TEAM, Inc. (Derby-Ansonia-Shelton area) (203) 736-5420
• Action for Bridgeport Community Development, Inc. (203) 384-6904
• Norwalk Economic Opportunity Now, Incorporated (203) 899-2484
• CTE, Inc. (Stamford area) (203) 352-4846