POTTSTOWN PA – The Pottstown-based YWCA Tri-County Area is partnering with electricity and natural gas provider PECO to help its eligible customers-in-need pay their utility bills.
PECO has created a “Customer Relief Fund” through a one-time $10 million charitable contribution by Exelon, its corporate parent. The fund is being administered by the United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey.
The local YWCA reports it is assisting the fund by notifying the public of its availability, and helping potential applicants. It hopes to overcome literacy, language, online access, and other issues that might prevent eligible households from applying for relief.
To be eligible, current PECO customers must have incomes between 151- and 300-percent of the federal poverty level. They also must be in arrears with their PECO account, and owe no more than $2,000 to the utility company. Qualified customers will receive a grant of $500, which will appear as a credit on their utility bills.
Applications Being Accepted Now
YWCA CEO Kelly Grosser says the fund represents a valuable alternative that supports limited to middle-income customers.
“These are customers (who) do not qualify for low-income support like LIHEAP,” the federally-funded Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, Grosser explains. Those households “are often overlooked when help is offered. We are very excited for this opportunity,” she adds.
Applications for the Customer Relief Fund are available online now through Dec. 31 (2025), or until funds are exhausted. Additional eligibility parameters may apply. Information about them, and on completing an application, is posted on a PECO webpage.
About The YWCA
The YWCA Tri-County Area states it is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all.
The non-profit has been serving portions of Montgomery, Berks, and Chester counties since 1908. The organization says its provides “quality affordable early education, youth enrichment, adult literacy,” and other programs “to support the health and vitality of women, girls, and families.”
Photo by Clint Patterson on Unsplash, used by Travels With The Post under license
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