region: -> Statewide

notes: The Citizens Energy/Distrigas Heat Assistance Program was created for people who are struggling to pay their natural gas heating bills in Massachusetts. The program is open to those who low income families that have exhausted their federal fuel assistance benefit or to individuals ineligible to receive federal fuel assistance but cannot afford to pay their heating bills. Citizens Energy administers this Distrigas-funded program. Distrigas dedicates proceeds from every LNG shipment to its import terminal in Everett, Massachusetts, up to approximately $1 million a year. Last winter, thousands of Massachusetts households received assistance from this program, which makes payments on behalf of customers directly to Bay State Gas, Berkshire Gas, Blackstone Gas, Holyoke Gas & Electric, Keyspan, Middleboro Gas & Electric, New England Gas, NStar, Unitil, Wakefield Municipal Gas & Light, and Westfield Gas & Electric. HOW TO APPLY Households that heat their home with natural gas and believe they may qualify for assistance through this program should call 1-866-GAS-9918. Callers to this hotline will be asked to leave a name and address on the message so that Citizens Energy can mail out an application form. Applicants need to complete the form and mail it back to Citizens Energy, along with a copy of their gas-utility bill. If the applicant is eligible, Citizens Energy will work with their gas utility to credit $150 towards the household’s gas account. Shelter Winter Program Keeping Families WarmThe Shelter Winter Assistance Program provides heat to thousands of homeless men, women, and children in about 160 Massachusetts and Rhode Island homeless shelters every winter. The Citizens program enables shelters to pay a portion of their heating bills. This frees up limited shelter funds to support crucial services, including health care, education, and employment services, to society's most vulnerable citizens. Helping Shelters Save on CostsCitizens Energy has worked with other partners to provide additional energy services to shelters. For example, Citizens Energy teamed with Citizens Bank, which financed $300,000 in energy efficiency upgrades at 59 shelters in Eastern Massachusetts. These upgrades, which included new windows, doors, lighting, and heating equipment, will save an estimated $1 million in energy bills at those shelters, enabling shelters to spend more of their funds on services Parking At 88 Black Falcon Avenue, limited visitor parking is available in designated spots both up the ramp or around the back of the building. Enter through the Center Lobby entrance. Directions by Public Transportation The MBTA provides bus service (#2, #3) to the Seaport District from South Station (nearest T stop). The buses stop in front of the Boston Design Center on Drydock Ave. Joseph's Limousine operates a shuttle bus from Dorchester Ave. (behind Federal Reserve Bank), across the street from South Station. The shuttle operates from 7am to 7pm, Mon through Fri. Schedules are available at South Station. -> The specifics on what the program will be for 2008/2009 winter season has not been announced yet. General Info from their website: The Citizens Energy/Distrigas Heat Assistance Program was created for people who are struggling to pay their natural gas heating bills in Massachusetts. The program is open to those who low income families that have exhausted their federal fuel assistance benefit or to individuals ineligible to receive federal fuel assistance but cannot afford to pay their heating bills. Citizens Energy administers this Distrigas-funded program. Distrigas dedicates proceeds from every LNG shipment to its import terminal in Everett, Massachusetts, up to approximately $1 million a year. Last winter, thousands of Massachusetts households received assistance from this program, which makes payments on behalf of customers directly to Bay State Gas, Berkshire Gas, Blackstone Gas, Holyoke Gas & Electric, Keyspan, Middleboro Gas & Electric, New England Gas, NStar, Unitil, Wakefield Municipal Gas & Light, and Westfield Gas & Electric. HOW TO APPLY Households that heat their home with natural gas and believe they may qualify for assistance through this program should call 1-866-GAS-9918. Callers to this hotline will be asked to leave a name and address on the message so that Citizens Energy can mail out an application form. Applicants need to complete the form and mail it back to Citizens Energy, along with a copy of their gas-utility bill. If the applicant is eligible, Citizens Energy will work with their gas utility to credit $150 towards the household’s gas account. Shelter Winter Program Keeping Families WarmThe Shelter Winter Assistance Program provides heat to thousands of homeless men, women, and children in about 160 Massachusetts and Rhode Island homeless shelters every winter. The Citizens program enables shelters to pay a portion of their heating bills. This frees up limited shelter funds to support crucial services, including health care, education, and employment services, to society's most vulnerable citizens. Helping Shelters Save on CostsCitizens Energy has worked with other partners to provide additional energy services to shelters. For example, Citizens Energy teamed with Citizens Bank, which financed $300,000 in energy efficiency upgrades at 59 shelters in Eastern Massachusetts. These upgrades, which included new windows, doors, lighting, and heating equipment, will save an estimated $1 million in energy bills at those shelters, enabling shelters to spend more of their funds on services Parking At 88 Black Falcon Avenue, limited visitor parking is available in designated spots both up the ramp or around the back of the building. Enter through the Center Lobby entrance. Directions by Public Transportation The MBTA provides bus service (#2, #3) to the Seaport District from South Station (nearest T stop). The buses stop in front of the Boston Design Center on Drydock Ave. Joseph's Limousine operates a shuttle bus from Dorchester Ave. (behind Federal Reserve Bank), across the street from South Station. The shuttle operates from 7am to 7pm, Mon through Fri. Schedules are available at South Station.