LEAP Helps With High Heating Costs
by Eileen Doherty, Executive Director
Senior Answers and Service
and the Colorado Gerontological Society
Higher gas overall prices and requests by Xcel Energy to the Public Utilities Commission to
increase rates, will cause many low income Coloradoans to experience difficulty in paying their gas and electric bill this winter.
As utility companies increase fuel efficiency and consumers increase their conservation practices and use fewer utilities, consumers
often suffer from increased costs.
This is the case with water users of the Denver Water Board. As the need for water
decreased through increased conservation practices as a result of the recent drought, water rates almost doubled prior to the
rates paid before the drought. Most likely this same scenario will happen in the gas and oil industry, as more and more energy
efficient practices are adopted. There is only a limited amount of assistance available to help with these increased heating costs.
The Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP) will help low-income households with the
winter heating costs from November 1, 2008 to April 30, 2009. However, LEAP only pays a portion of the home heating costs, and is
not intended to pay the entire costs of home heating.
To be eligible for LEAP, an individual must pay home heating costs to a utility company,
fuel dealer, or as part of the rent. If the individual is living in non-subsidized housing and is paying home heating costs
either in the form of rent or as a separate charge in addition to rent, the individual may be eligible for LEAP.
Individuals who live in subsidized housing are eligible for LEAP, if the unit has a
separate meter for fuel charges or if individuals are billed a heating surcharge for fuel.
The household income for eligible persons must be less than $1,604 for a single
person and $2,159 for a couple. There is no asset test.
Individuals can apply for LEAP assistance at the county department of human/social
services. Individuals must provide proof of income from all sources unless they receive Old Age Pension, Aid to the Needy
Disabled/Aid to The Blind and/or Supplemental Security Income. In addition, individuals must provide a copy of the most
recent heating bill showing the company name, address, and account numbers, or a copy of the most recent rent receipt, if
heating costs are included in the rent.
Coloradoans must also prove “lawful presence in the United States." Individuals
must submit a valid Colorado driver’s license or a Colorado identification card, a United States military card, a United States
Merchant Mariner card, or a Native American tribal document. The individual must also sign an affidavit indicating US
citizenship or legal permanent residence or lawful presence in the United States.
In most cases, LEAP payments are made directly to the utility provider, rather
than to the individual.
If individuals have a shutoff notice or if the heating service has been
disconnected, the individual should immediately contact the county department of human/social services. Generally if the
utility company is aware that an application for LEAP is being processed, the utility company will not disconnect the service.
The Public Utilities Commission has set guidelines, called “Rule 13” which must be
followed by regulated utility companies when attempting to shut off utilities. Under the Rule 13”, the utility must give the
customer ten days advance notice of its intent to shut-off the utilities. The utilities may not be shut-off for sixty
days if the customer has medical proof that a shut-off would be harmful. The medical certification may be used only
once a year.
Individuals may also be eligible for budget billing to help with bills that
are in arrears. The amount of arrears may be added to a budget billing arrangement and spread in equal payments over a
period of up to six months.
LEAP forms are available on the web at the
Colorado Department of Human Services or from the county department of human/social services in the county in which the individual resides. Requests for assistance are processed by the county department of human/social services. For assistance with forms, filing for benefits or for more information, call 303-333-3482.
Eileen Doherty, MS is the Executive Director of Senior
Answers and Services and the Colorado Gerontological Society, 3006 East Colfax, Denver CO 80206.
She has more than 30 years of experience in education and training, clinical practice, research,
and public policy in gerontology. You may reach her at 303-333-3482 or Doherty001@att.net
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