With winter around the corner and the cost of fuel and electricity at record highs in New Hampshire, Southern New Hampshire Services, along with local fuel assistance programs in the Monadnock region, are gearing up to help those in need of assistance with their heating bills.

Southern New Hampshire Services Chief Operating Officer Ryan Clouthier, said there have been significant increases in fuel costs as well as electricity over the past year. Eversource’s electric rates more than doubled Aug. 1, from 10.7 cents to 22.7 cents per kilowatt-hour. 

“And we’re already seeing increases on deliverable fuels,” Clouthier said. “This time last year, the cost of oil was around $2.75 a gallon, and this year the average cost is $5.63 a gallon. And propane has almost doubled as well. The increased fuel costs are a huge concern that are going to put families in a difficult position.” 

Clouthier, whose organization administers New Hampshire’s fuel assistance program, said he’s always concerned that people may not know about the five community action agencies that provide assistance in the state going into the heating season. 

The fuel assistance program administered by SNHS opens Nov. 1, but Clouthier said the organization has been accepting applications since July and that he expects a significant increase in applications this year.

“Last year we had received just over 5,000 applications and this year we’ve already received 7,500,” he said.

What is a Community Action Partnership?

Community Action Partnerships like SNHS are local private and public nonprofit organizations that carry out the Community Action Program, which was founded by the 1964 Economic Opportunity Act to fight poverty.  

Southern New Hampshire Services (SNHS), which started in 1965, is a Community Action Partnership that provides social service programs and advocacy activities for approximately 31,000 economically disadvantaged, elderly, youth and other vulnerable populations each year. As the agency serving Hillsborough and Rockingham counties, SNHS operates more than 60 programs – including energy and utility assistance – through contracts with federal, state and local governments, community partners and private community-based groups.

The New Hampshire of Energy administers the fuel assistance program funded through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, along with the  state’s five Community Action Partnership agencies – which includes Southwestern Community Services, in Cheshire and Sullivan counties –  that accept and process applications for assistance.

Peterborough’s own fuel assistance program

Keep Peterborough Warm is a town-administered fuel assistance program to benefit middle-income families who don’t qualify for state fuel assistance programs but still find it challenging to afford to heat their homes. The program is 100 percent funded by donations and charitable grants. Those who qualify may receive up to $1,000 in fuel assistance annually, said Ali Kreutz, who handles incoming KPW applications. She said KPW was established in 2005 by then-Town Administrator Pam Brenner, and Sue Chollet. The goal was to benefit Peterborough residents in the “new middle,” she said.

“[The new middle] included those who earned too much to qualify for state heating assistance, but would still struggle financially when faced with steep heating costs, which were rising at the time [much like they are now],” said Kreutz.

KPW is funded purely by donations, Kreutz said, explaining that the number of households that have benefited in the past five years has fluctuated between four and eight. 

And in addition to maximum income limits, there are also minimum income limits, Kreutz explained.

“We determine the minimum each year by looking at the maximum limit for the Southern NH Fuel Assistance Program (FAP), to ensure that applicants fit within that ‘new middle’ range KPW was established to benefit,” she said, noting that if someone is eligible for the FAP but receives less than a $1,000 benefit, Keep Peterborough Warm will make up the difference. 

Applications for the program are available in the administration office of the Town House, or can be mailed or emailed upon request, and Kreutz said she encourages anyone with questions about applying or donating to the program to reach out directly to her through the town office. 

“[T]here are so many people who don’t qualify as low-income ‘enough’ to receive financial assistance from the state but still genuinely struggle to make ends meet,” Kreutz said. “I think it’s wonderful that Keep Peterborough Warm can ease the fuel-cost burden somewhat and help keep those families warm.”

Pause affects fuel assistance

New Hampshire Housing’s recent pause in accepting applications for the New Hampshire Rental Assistance Program could affect money used for fuel and electricity assistance, according to attorney Raymond Burke.

Burke is the project director for New Hampshire Legal Assistance’s (NHLA) Utility Justice Project. The project addresses a number of issues related to utility services, programs and rates, and how they affect low-income households in New Hampshire. While the bulk of money coming from the New Hampshire Emergency Rental Assistance Program (NHERAP) is used for helping people pay rent, it can also help with fuel and energy costs, Burke said.

“The money in [the emergency rental assistance program] is available for rental assistance on past-due or future rent as well as utility payments if people qualified for unemployment benefits due to pandemic,” Burke said.

Burke said the state is going to be sharing information with Community Action Partnerships for them to do targeted outreach to potential applicants who are eligible for fuel assistance.

“We were excited to hear that because it reaches more people,” he said. “They’re already seeing an uptick in applications with rising costs and every little bit helps.”

From a policy perspective, Burke said states have different options to use under federal laws and that states are adjusting grant amounts for who’s eligible and who’s enrolled.

The good news

Clouthier said the good news is that the state has added funds this year for fuel assistance that increases the benefits for people from 60 to 75 percent of the state median income. 

“The most important thing is for people to reach out to their local community action agency to let them know the situation they’re in,” Cloutier said. “They’ll be there to provide assistance depending on specific situations. Often times, we’ll see people trying to self-assess their situation and that can be very difficult to do.”

To learn about specific community action agencies and their fuel and electricity assistance programs visit capnh.org.