More senior citizens will be able to take advantage of natural gas discounts soon, now that the state Public Service Commission has increased the qualifying household income level.
Bill Edge, spokesperson for the commission, said seniors with an annual income of $24,120 can now apply for the discounts from Atlanta Gas Light company and Liberty Utilities. Previously, only seniors earning $14,000 and below qualified.
“The decision brings the two natural gas utilities income levels in line with the senior low-income income level currently used by Georgia Power Company,” the commission said.
According to the statement, the discounts apply to seniors, 65 years and older, living in the Atlanta Gas and Light company and Liberty Utilities service areas.
To qualify for a discount, a senior citizen must have the service listed to their metered address and under his or her name .
“I am pleased that we can now rectify the disparity between our utilities and offer more Georgia utility customers this discount,” said Commissioner Chuck Eaton in a statement.
The PSC decision comes in the wake of a recent report published by the Smart Energy Consumer Collaborative that said Atlanta's low income earners spend a higher percentage of their income to energy bills.
Low income energy customers in the state can also benefit from the federally funded Georgia Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, which links eligible low income customers with energy bill payment assistance programs, energy crisis assistance and energy related minor home repairs. In Georgia, 129,446 households received assistance through the program in 2016.
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