AARP survey finds New Yorkers struggling with high heating costs; AARP, PULP urge state lawmakers to provide immediate relief for low-income and older New Yorkers

ALBANY, N.Y., Jan. 9 /U.S. Newswire/ -- With home heating costs soaring this winter, a new AARP survey finds that most New Yorkers are worried about being able to bear the cost of their home energy bills. The survey, released by AARP today, focuses on consumer concerns about coping with high energy bills.

Key survey findings:

-- Over 80 percent of New Yorkers are concerned about being able to afford the cost of heating their homes this winter.

-- Nearly 20 percent have delayed buying necessities such as food or prescription drugs so that they could pay their bill.

-- 83 percent support providing low-income households with assistance from the State when Federal programs don't provide enough help.*

"High energy costs mean those least likely to bear the blow -- the older and low-income population -- will be hit the hardest. New York State has got to do more to help them," said Lois Aronstein, AARP New York State Director. "Our state should take the unprecedented step and provide a first fist-time state allocation to the federal Home Energy Assistance Program."

AARP and PULP are requesting that the Governor and Legislature enact a State emergency spending bill to provide up to $291 million in immediate help to the elderly and low-income households to heat their homes. The bill would be the first time New York State would supplement the federally funded Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP). While HEAP currently provides grants of up to $400, more funds are urgently needed to help New Yorkers with soaring home heating costs.

"Energy price spikes reported in the news over the last four months are showing up in customers' bills today," said Ben Wiles, Senior Attorney at the Public Utility Law Project. "With no help coming from Washington and low-income customers worried about the difficulties they'll have, the need for immediate action by State policymakers could not be stronger."

While older persons use about the same amount of energy as younger people, they tend to devote a higher percentage of their total spending on heating their homes. In fact, one out of every four low-income older persons spends about 20 percent or more of their total income on home energy bills.

-- The survey is available upon request by calling AARP at 518-447-6723. Margin of error is plus or minus 3.8 percent.

AARP has over 2.6 million members in New York State. AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization dedicated to making life better for people 50 and over. AARP provides information and resources; engages in legislative, regulatory and legal advocacy; assists members in serving their communities; and offers a wide range of unique benefits, special products, and services for its members. These include AARP The Magazine, published bimonthly; AARP Bulletin, a monthly newspaper; Segunda Juventud, a quarterly newspaper in Spanish; Live and Learn, a quarterly newsletter for National Retired Teachers Association members; and a Web site, http://www.aarp.org. AARP has staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The Public Utility Law Project is a not-for-profit legal advocacy organization. PULP represents residential low income and rural consumers seeking to advance universal service, affordability, and consumer protection in utility, telecommunications and energy-related matters. More information concerning PULP and its work can be found at the PULP website -- http://www.pulp.tc.