Hon. Janice Sherry, Minister of Community Services, Seniors and Labour is pleased to announce that the Government of Prince Edward Island is donating $108,000 to the Salvation Army Home Heating Assistance Program. With the unspent funding of $61,000, this is expected to meet the needs demonstrated in previous years. This important contribution will allow the Salvation Army to assist hundreds of Islanders in heating their homes this winter.
The Government of Prince Edward Island continues to focus its efforts on long-term energy efficiency solutions.
“The Salvation Army Home Heating Assistance Program has met a critical need in the community over the past number of years. This is a unique partnership, with business, community and government working together, one we are pleased to be a part of,” said Minister Sherry. “This emergency assistance will be used to help Islanders who have no other means for heating their homes this winter.”
In addition to the donation that Community Services, Seniors, and Labour is making, the PEI Petroleum Marketer’s Association (Kenmac, Island Petroleum, Bluewave Energy, Pineau Fuels and Noonan Petroleum) are also contributing to the Home Heating Assistance Program for the second year by donating 5,600 litres of fuel. Other supporters include Co-op Fuels who will donate $6,000, two-thirds of which came from their customers’ donations.
“Even though oil prices have stabilized, our members, like consumers, are still very concerned with the impact that these costs have on low income Islanders,” said Dan MacIsaac, President of the PEI Petroleum Marketer’s Association.
“ While the Salvation Army Home Heating Program is a positive step toward helping low income Islanders, this is only a short-term solution,” said Minister Sherry. “We must find ways to reduce energy in our homes and businesses for the long run . A variety of programs from the Office of Energy Efficiency can assist with this goal.”
The Government of PEI provides many programs, through its Office of Energy Efficiency, to help Islanders improve the energy efficiency of their homes. Anyone who has accessed this program in the past has also been referred to the Office of Energy Efficiency.
“I want to help Islanders fight energy costs by helping them cut energy consumption. The Office of Energy Efficiency can provide financial assistance to upgrade inefficient houses and apartments. Energy advisers are available to help Islanders make affordable and effective improvements to their homes,” said Richard Brown, Minister of Environment, Energy and Forestry. “We work with community groups who help identify potential clients for the Office of Energy Efficiency and we’d like to see even more of that happen.”
Residents can apply for home heating assistance once per year and the Salvation Army is continuing to approve new applications into April.
Residents of Queens and Kings Counties can reach the Salvation Army at (902) 892-8870 and people in Prince County should call (902) 888-3870.
BACKGROUNDER
Salvation Army Home Heating Assistance Program
• Since Winter of 2008, the Government of Prince Edward Island has donated over $500,000 to the Salvation Army Fuel Program to provide low-income Islanders with heating fuel.
Over the last two winters (2008-2009), this funding has assisted 899 families in 68 communities across the province. This is in addition to support the Department provides to Islanders receiving Social Assistance.
• To qualify, a single person or couple without children must have an income level of $20,000 or less; and $30,000 or less for a family with a child.
• All clients will be expected to produce proof of income and expenses to the Salvation Army, and the Salvation Army has the right to refuse assistance if personnel feel an applicant does not have sufficient need.
• Applicants who applied last year to the Salvation Army will be eligible to apply this winter. Should the program be available, the maximum amount of fuel provided to an applicant is 450 liters.
In March 2007, the Province contracted the Vermont Energy Investment Corporation (VEIC) to complete an assessment of the Energy Efficiency Potential in PEI’s residential, commercial/institutional, and transportation sectors. The study report is complete. A number of potential programs/initiatives have been identified and are currently being assessed by staff to determine an appropriate implementation strategy.
Actions To Date:
The Office of Energy Efficiency currently offers programming for the residential and commercial sectors. Planning for initiatives in the industrial/agricultural sector is underway.
The Office of Energy Efficiency offers the following programs:
1) PEI EcoEnergy Audit Assistance Program
• The PEI EcoEnergy Audit Assistance Program will pay for half the cost of a pre- and post-retrofit audit to a maximum of $250 per household.
• The PEI EcoEnergy Audit Assistance Program for Low-Income Households will pay the full costs of a pre- and post-retrofit audit.
2) PEI Energy Efficiency Grant Program
• The PEI Energy Efficiency Grant Program provides a direct subsidy of 15% (max $1,500) to homeowners to implement measures in the EcoEnergy Retrofit Program Evaluation Report.
• PEI Energy Efficiency (Windows and Doors) Grant Program
Clients who install windows and/doors will receive a grant of $40 per eligible window or door installed.
3) PEI Energy Efficiency Loan Program
• Provides financing (up to $10,000) to complete energy upgrades. Low-income clients are eligible for loan forgiveness for a portion of the loan (50% for less than $15,000 income, 25% for those over $15,000 but less than $30,000).
• Commercial Sector and Institutional Buildings Program (CSI-PEI) provides financial incentives up to $3,000 for energy assessments and up to $25,000 for energy upgrades.
Fast Facts:
• Reducing our energy consumption and Green House Gas (GHG) emissions through energy efficiency is the most cost-effective approach.
• The Office of Energy Efficiency (OEE) provides Islanders with one-stop-shopping for provincial and federal energy efficiency programs, services and information.
• Over 3,000 energy audits have been conducted on Island homes since the OEE began operations. Over 1,200 low-income clients have been approved for free energy audits.
• Over 700 loans/grants have been processed. Loans totaled over $3.3 million. Total grants in excess of $275,000.