CHANGES TO PECO’S
CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM (CAP)
WE’RE HERE TO HELP
We have made changes to our Customer
Assistance Program (CAP) to help make
electric and natural gas service even more
affordable for our low-income customers.
CAP currently provides eligible low-income
customers with discounted rates on their
electric and/or natural gas service. The
current CAP program will change in October
2016 and you will see these changes
beginning with your November 2016 bill.
Low-income Home Energy Assistance Program
(LIHEAP): A Federal grant program to help lowincome customers manage their energy costs and
ensure service during the home heating season.
Here is a list of other programs we provide
(in addition to CAP):
Low-income Usage Reduction Program (LIURP):
A program that provides year round conservation
and weatherization assistance for qualified
households.
The Matching Energy Assistance Fund (MEAF):
A hardship program funded by voluntary
contributions of PECO customers and citizens
and matched dollar for dollar by PECO for up to
$500 per commodity in total assistance for those
who qualify.
Customer Assistance and Referral Evaluation
Services (CARES): A referral and information service
designed to assist customers who have temporary,
personal or financial hardships that prevent the
payment of their utility bill. CARES helps about
5,000 customers every year.
Visit us online at:
peco.com/help
Call us at:
1-800-774-7040
Making energy
service more
affordable for you
Changes to PECO Customer
Assistance Program (CAP)
peco.com/help
1-800-774-7040
At PECO, we manage the
largest suite of low-income
programs in Pennsylvania.
From monthly credits on
your PECO bill, to performing
energy efficiency work in
your home, we provide
needed assistance to
more than 150,000 PECO
customers each year.
CAP ELIGIBILITY
CAP CHANGES
Eligibility for CAP will not change
Even though CAP is changing, the program eligibility
and program requirements will stay the same.
 Have PECO as your energy supplier
 Total gross household income must be at or below
150 percent of the annual Federal Poverty Level (FPL).
2016 FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL (FPL) GUIDELINES:
(monthly gross household income)
# in
Family
25%
FPL
50%
FPL
75%
FPL
100%
FPL
1
247.50
495.00
742.50
990.00 1,237.50 1,485.00
2
333.75
667.50 1,001.25 1,335.00 1,668.75 2,002.50
3
420.00
840.00 1,260.00 1,680.00 2,100.00 2,520.00
4
506.25 1,012.50 1,518.75 2,025.00 2,531.25 3,037.50
5
592.50 1,185.00 1,777.50 2,370.00 2,962.50 3,555.00
6
678.75 1,357.50 2,036.25 2,715.00 3,393.75 4,072.50
7
765.21 1,530.42 2,295.63 3,060.83 3,826.04 4,591.25
8
851.88 1,703.75 2,555.63 3,407.50 4,259.38 5,111.25
Each
add'l
86.67
173.33
260.00
346.67
125%
FPL
433.33
150%
FPL
520.00
CAP REQUIREMENTS
CAP requirements also will not change
 Pay your PECO bill in full and on time each month
once enrolled in CAP
 Verify total gross household income every two years,
or when requested
 Apply for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance
Program (LIHEAP) each year
 Participate in the Low-Income Usage Reduction
Program (LIURP), if your household is identified as a
high energy user
 Report any change in your household income to
PECO right away
With the current program, PECO CAP customers
receive a discounted rate on a portion of their
monthly electricity and/or natural gas bill. Beginning
in October 2016, instead of this discounted rate,
CAP customers will receive a credit on their monthly
PECO bill. Customers will begin to see the credit
on their November 2016 PECO bill.
WHAT WILL AND WILL NOT CHANGE WITH CAP:
CURRENT CAP
NEW CAP
DIFFERENCE
MONTHLY
BENEFIT
% Discount
Monthly Credit
% Discount
vs. Credit
HOW BENEFIT
DETERMINED
Income only
Income & Usage
Added Usage
ELIGIBILITY
150% Federal
Poverty Level
150% Federal
Poverty Level
No Change
ARREARAGE
FORGIVENESS
Yes
Yes
No Change
CAP
REQUIREMENTS
 Recertify every
2 years
 Recertify every
2 years
No Change
 Apply for LIHEAP
 Apply for LIHEAP
 Participate in
LIURP
 Participate in
LIURP
 Pay bill on time
 Pay bill on time
 Report changes
to income
 Report changes
to income
HOW WE DETERMINE A
CUSTOMER’S CREDIT
EXAMPLE CREDIT
A customer’s annual CAP credit will be calculated using
the following customer information:
1. Monthly Household Income (Federal Poverty Level); See
the FPL chart on the previous panel
2. Annual energy usage (The amount of energy used at
the property over the past 12 months)
3. Energy Burden – The percentage of household income
In October 2016, CAP customers will receive a letter
letting them know what their annual credit will be
for the next consecutive 12 months. A portion of this
annual credit will be applied to their bill each month.
CAP customers will receive a greater portion of these
credits in months where usage is usually higher and
a smaller portion of credits in months where usage is
usually lower. Here’s an example of a heating customer
who was enrolled in CAP in the month of December and
whose annual credit was calculated to be $1,200.
that should go towards energy bills
AN EXAMPLE OF A CUSTOMER’S ANNUAL
AND MONTHLY CREDIT:
PUC ENERGY BURDEN PERCENTAGES:
% FEDERAL
POVERTY LEVEL
ELECTRIC–
NON-HEATING
ELECTRIC–
HEATING
ELECTRIC–WITH
GAS HEATING
MONTH
CREDIT
ADJUSTED FOR
SEASONALITY
0 – 50%
5%
13%
13%
JANUARY
$100
$200
51 – 100%
6%
16%
16%
FEBRUARY
$100
$200
101 – 150%
7%
17%
17%
MARCH
$100
$125
APRIL
$100
$100
MAY
$100
$75
JUNE
$100
$25
JULY
$100
$25
AUGUST
$100
$25
SEPTEMBER
$100
$25
OCTOBER
$100
$75
NOVEMBER
$100
$125
DECEMBER
$100
$200
$1,200
$1,200
Using this information (FPL, Annual Energy Usage, and
Energy Burden), PECO will calculate a customer’s annual
credit. This annual credit will be divided across 12 months
and applied to a CAP customer’s bill each month.
Because energy use changes due to the impact of weather,
a larger credit will be applied during months when
customers normally use more energy.
The amount of the CAP credit also may change each
quarter to make sure the credit reflects the customer’s
energy usage habits
TOTAL
This chart is used to
show an example of a
customer’s annual and
monthly credit. Each
individual customer’s
credit will vary based on
their household FPL and
energy usage.