Families may qualify for up to $900 in federal help to pay power bills

By The Star Staff

Gov. Pedro Pierluisi Urrutia, along with acting Family Secretary Ciení Rodríguez Troche and Alberto Fradera Vàzquez, who heads the Family Socioeconomic Development Administration, announced the beginning of the application process for the federal program that will provide economic assistance to citizens and families under the poverty level established by the guidelines of the federal government, who have arrears in the payment of their electricity bills, and have received notice of suspension or disconnection.

The federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) allocated some $27 million to Puerto Rico this year.

“Today we are announcing the start of the application process for the economic assistance program for low-income individuals and families for the payment of electric service,” the governor said at a press conference.

He said the program could provide up to $900 in assistance to eligible families.

Rodríguez Troche added that the priority is to help low-income families facing multiple challenges, while Fradera Vázquez pointed out that the program is an essential form of aid to alleviate the economic burden of overdue electricity bills and avoid power outages.