Gas-bill relief a priority
Huntsman seeks winter aid for struggling households
Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. said Thursday he's put together a panel of experts to figure out how much more money must be made available to cover what will likely be a nearly $32 hike in the typical Utah household's monthly gas bill.
"It's going to be a difficult winter for a lot of people. There's no doubt about that," Huntsman said during the taping of his monthly press conference that airs on KUED Channel 7. "Let's recognize we have a problem. We need to act."
To start, the governor said his experts are calculating how much is already available through existing assistance programs. But whatever that number turns out to be, he said it probably won't be enough.
"We also need to identify what the chasm is going to be between those programs and the reality of the situation given the increase in prices. How do we close that gap? I don't have an easy answer," Huntsman said.
The governor said any additional cash is most likely going to come from private donations. Other possible sources cited by the governor are the federal government and even the utilities themselves.
That won't include requesting a state appropriation, however. The governor did not mention that as an option during his press conference. Later, his spokeswoman, Tammy Kikuchi, said Huntsman's hope is that "the private sector can step up and offer assistance."
The majority of public assistance now comes through the state's HEAT program, which relies completely on federal funds. Last year, HEAT received about $14 million from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, said program manager Sherman Roquiero.
"We're expecting about the same this year, but the same is not enough," Roquiero said.
HEAT provides one-time funding for Utahns who qualify for extra help with their winter utility bills. Priority is given to the elderly and disabled, as well as families with small children.
Beneficiaries of the program, which is open between November and April, each received about $290 last year. With higher gas prices and increased demand, however, Roquiero expects that figure to fall dramatically this winter.
"We're not going to be able to give them the amount that they need," he said.
Most HEAT recipients are on fixed incomes, and paying out an extra $30 a month can be devastating.
"It's really concerning for people with low income and whether they'll be able to make the payment for their bills," Roquiero said. "Sometimes they may have to make a choice between buying medicine, keeping warm, buying a loaf of bread."
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