CITGO CONTINUES TO SUPPORT CITIZEN’S ENERGY

It turns out you'll be able to call Joe for free oil after all. It was widely reported in early January that Venezuelan company Citgo Petroleum Corp. was not renewing its support of the Citizen’s Energy program. The program, run by Joseph P. Kennedy II, provides free heating oil to 200,000 low-income households in 23 states, including Massachusetts. Kennedy had announced that Citgo had to suspend contributions because of plunging oil prices and the widening recession, which hurt its revenue. As a result, Kennedy warned, he might have to cut the program by one-fifth in Massachusetts and shutter it completely in other states this year unless he could raise other contributions or persuade Citgo to change its mind. He also said Citizens would lay off 20 staffers and delay the contracts for operating its application processing call centers. Two days later Citgo reported that they had never suspended the program. At this announcement Citizens said it will start accepting applications on Jan. 19 (two weeks later than the originally planned date) and expects home deliveries to begin two to three days later.

Kennedy has frequently touted this three-year-old program in television commercials, urging people to call 1-877-JOE-4-OIL. Under the program, residents in 16 states were able to obtain up to 100 gallons of free heating oil last year. The program also provides grants to Native American tribes in other states to help members heat their homes.

Social service groups point out Citizens' program is just one of many to help low-income families heat their homes. For instance, residents can call the state heating assistance hotline at 800-632-8175, and the Salvation Army and Massachusetts energy companies run the Good Neighbor Energy Fund to help residents pay their electric, gas, and oil bills. A coalition of state utilities and community programs also runs a website, www.energybucks.com, which points consumers to other resources.

-From: “Citgo continues support of free heating oil plan; Venezuelan firm says it never ended deal with Citizens Energy” By Nicole C. Wong and Todd Wallack, The Boston Globe, January 8, 2009, at http://www.boston.com/business/personalfinance/articles/2009/01/08/citgo_continues_support_of_free_heating_oil_plan/,retrieved 1/8/09.

 

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