Cahill Promotes Attorney General Program to Pay For Household Oil Efficiency Upgrades

December 8, 2008

Assemblymember Kevin Cahill (D-Ulster/Dutchess) promoted a new initiative through the New York State Attorney General’s office to deliver $1.9 million to the state’s low-income households to help them cope with the high cost of home heating oil. Attorney General Andrew Cuomo created the Oil Efficiency Pilot Program with funds secured through a record settlement with the nation’s largest power company for violations of the Clean Air Act.

“Weatherization services are the most effective form of home heating assistance,” said Assemblymember Cahill, Chair of the Assembly Committee on Energy. “Efficiency measures, if done properly, could save a household more in one year then they would be eligible to receive in grants through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.”

“Being able to help working families and seniors effectively cope with high heating costs while at the same time reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions is a win-win situation for the State,” said Mr. Cahill. “I applaud Attorney General for bringing this forward thinking initiative to oil heat customers.”

The Oil Efficiency Pilot Program is the first in New York to specifically target low-income households that heat with oil. This new program will be administered by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). Overall, approximately 500 low-income New York households are expected to benefit from the pilot program.

The funding will offset the costs of installing high-efficiency furnaces, steam boilers, and household hot water systems, as well as insulation, weather-stripping, and other weatherization features. These oil efficiency measures are expected to save an average household approximately 224 gallons of heating oil per year. The initiative will also pay for cost-effective electricity saving adjustments, such as lighting and refrigeration replacements. Through these measures, an average household could save up to $1,000 annually.

For more information or questions about the Oil Efficiency Pilot Program call Mr. Cahill’s Kingston office at (845) 338-9610, visit www.HeatSmartNY.org or call the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) at 1-877-NYSMART.

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