Notices

Many PECO customers facing financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic have a new resource to help pay their utility bills.

The Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP), which was signed into law February 5, helps to support Pennsylvania renters and families at risk of homelessness due to financial hardships caused by the pandemic. The grant funding can be applied to a customer’s electric and natural gas bill, and customers can apply to receive grant funding to cover all outstanding balances incurred during the pandemic.

Tenants—and landlords on behalf of tenants—can apply for funding. For more information and to apply, visit the Department of Human Services Website.

“We understand that many of our customers continue to face financial hardships, particularly renters, due to the pandemic,” said Funmi Williamson, PECO senior vice president and Chief Customer Officer. “We commend Governor Wolf and the legislature for enacting the Emergency Rental Assistance Program, and are hopeful that that this new resource, combined with PECO’s many flexible payment options and financial assistance programs, will provide necessary support as our region’s residents continue to transition through this difficult time.”

While ERAP provides grants to customers living in rental units, PECO offers a variety of bill relief options and assistance programs to help customers make ends meet. PECO has made new payment plans available, which can spread outstanding balance payments up to 24 months, with no money down and no interest charged. Residential customers should act now and can find out more about options online at www.peco.com/help.

Additional customer assistance programs include:

• Customer Assistance Program (CAP): An annual credit based on household income and energy use.
• Low-income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP): A federal grant program to help low-income customers manage their energy costs and ensure service during the heating season.
• Matching Energy Assistance Fund (MEAF): A program funded by voluntary contributions of customers and matched dollar for dollar by PECO for up to $1,000 in total assistance for those who qualify.
• Customer Assistance and Referral Evaluation Services (CARES): A referral and information service designed to assist customers who have special needs or extenuating circumstances that prevent the payment of their utility bill.

The Federal and State Income Tax Annual Return filing deadline was extended to May 17, 2021.  Keystone will accordingly not impose additional late filing penalty and interest to local taxpayers who file by May 17, 2021 so as to align the local filing deadline with the extended PA and the IRS filing deadlines. 

 This extension does not apply to any other tax payments.  Employer filing deadlines for reporting payroll withholdings are not changed.  Similarly, quarterly estimates for 1st quarter 2021 have not been extended.  

If you have any questions regarding EIT tax, please contact Keystone Collections Group directly through their website – Keystone’s website, www.KeystoneCollects.com or call them at  Keystone’s Taxpayer Services Department at (888) 328-0565. 

Today PECO filed a request to the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission that, if approved, will greatly enhance electric reliability, advance clean energy and provide additional customer programs. The two attachments I have included, provide additional information about the PUC filing.     If the rate filing is approved, PECO will invest more than $3 billion between 2019 and 2022 in electric distribution infrastructure to make the local energy grid stronger and more resilient, enhancing service and delivering safe, reliable, and clean energy for customers.  This proactive work is critical to reducing the impact of extreme weather on infrastructure and ensuring enhanced service for our customers.  The requested rate increase also provides financial assistance for eligible residential customers, including $2.7 million in bill relief for those who have received a federal COVID relief grant or are living with a household member who has experienced unemployment since the pandemic.  The filing includes a $1 million small business grant program, providing bill credits of $3,000 to qualifying small businesses located in low-income communities, demonstrating financial hardship.  The filing expands public Electric Vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure with $1.5 million of incentives to support commercial, industrial, and public transit customers with early EV deployments, with a focus on reducing emissions in disadvantaged communities.

If approved as submitted, a typical residential customer would see a bill increase of about $9.68 per month or 9.65%.  A typical small commercial customer would see a bill increase of about $44.74 per month or 5.49%.  If approved, the proposed rate increase would go into effect on January 1, 2022.   It may interest you to know that the average PECO residential electric customer’s total bill is currently at about the same level that it was 30 years ago in 1990.

Electric Rate Case News Release 2021