PSC approves $5 million in heating aid to poor

ATLANTA - The Public Service Commission approved $5 million in emergency assistance for low-income households Tuesday to help pay for rising heating bills.

Of the assistance approved, $3 million was for the elderly and $2 million for other low-income households. The aid provides refunds for natural gas bills in January, which had low temperatures throughout the month.

``I do think we have an emergency on our hands,'' said Commissioner David Burgess, who sponsored the assistance package that was approved by a 5-0 vote.

About 15,000 senior citizens and 60,000 low-income households already have qualified for the state assistance program. Another 30,000 are on a waiting list.

To qualify, a family of three can have annual income of not more than $22,530.

The PSC rejected 3-2 a proposal to provide $15 million in refunds to other gas customers. Under that proposal by Chairman Robert Bakers, $5 credits would have appeared on March and April bills for all 1.5 million homes and businesses in the deregulated natural gas market.

Baker and Commissioner Angela Spiers voted for the measure. Voting 'no' were Stand Wise, Burgess and Doug Everett.

Wise said relatively wealthy families ``will think this is a joke'' because of the amount of the credits. He said the PSC should conserve its resources in case more assistance is needed by the poor.

The refunds come from the state's universal service fund, which totals more than $28 million after $7 million in payments by Atlanta Gas Light Co. in recent weeks. The PSC has the discretion to use surpluses for general refunds.

Rep. Mark Burkhalter, R-Alpharetta, said that by its vote the commission ``failed in its responsibility to assist the average natural gas customer in Georgia.''

Burkhalter said he would press the Legislature to require the refunds if the PSC does not act.

Georgia Natural Gas, the No. 1 gas marketer in the state, said it would increase its variable rate this month by 11 percent, to just under 90 cents per therm, because of rising wholesale prices.

The No. 2 marketer, Scana, planned to announce new rates on Wednesday. No. 3 Southern Company Gas left prices unchanged for February.