Oct. 15--Gov. Ed Rendell announced Tuesday the federal government increased a block grant, set for $134 million in September, to $275 million to help people pay to heat and weatherize their homes this winter.

After subtracting funds to weatherize homes, Pennsylvania's Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program account will grow to $280 million from $148 million. That account includes up to a $10 million contribution from the state this year.

Mr. Rendell's announcement came in Philadelphia during the Governor's Energy Summit video conference with community leaders in seven locations -- including at the University of Scranton, where nearly 60 people attended.

State officials are increasing LIHEAP eligibility to residents earning up to $44,443 for a family of four -- or 210 percent of the federal poverty level, up from 150 percent or $30,975 last year. The average cash grant will grow to $300 from $100, and the typical emergency contribution will rise to $800 from $300.

"The need certainly outweighs the resources for heating assistance," said Rich Kucharski, executive director of the Lackawanna County Assistance Office. "The money out there to supplement people goes down, yet the number of people who need help increases" annually.

Last winter, $9.3 million from LIHEAP offset heating bills for 21,023 households in Luzerne and Lackawanna counties, while 7,747 residents received emergency-assistance grants. Most households got roughly $250.

In 2007, the state doled out about $200 million in cash and crisis grants to 540,853 Pennsylvania residents. The amount the counties will receive this year depends on how many residents request assistance.

After the governor's speech Tuesday, energy summit participants took turns in a video conference suggesting how the state can better promote free ways to "turn down (the thermostat), seal off (houses) and save up (energy)." More information on that statewide campaign is available at www.turn sealsave.org.

In Scranton, Gary Drapek, president and CEO of the United Way of Lackawanna County, and Sandi Vito, state secretary of Labor and Industry, led the discussions.

The local group's many suggestions included area contractors donating spare building materials to weatherize homes, making local buildings "warm centers" on cold days and expanding a pilot program for Wayne County residents to cooperatively purchase oil.

"The message here is not just more money," to help pay heating bills, Mr. Rendell said. "But we've got to conserve and do the things necessary to reduce energy usage."

Contact the writer: daxelrod@timesshamrock.com

WHO TO CALL:

For home-heating-assistance funds, call the Lackawanna County Assistance Office at 963-4525. If a power company is about to shut off the heat, call the Scranton-Lackawanna Human Development Agency at 963-6836.

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