$6.6 million gas grant for needy on agenda
The Public Service Commission is considering providing a $6.6 million emergency grant to help people who can't afford their winter natural gas bills.
The disbursement would come out of the Universal Service Fund, which is paid for by Atlanta Gas Light.
Commissioner Angela Speir made the request after learning that more than 26,000 people who are eligible for assistance are on a waiting list.
Speir said she calculated the grant amount by multiplying the number of waiting people by $250.
"That $250 represents a real person or a real family," she said. Customers in the Atlanta Gas Light service area, which is most of the state, would be eligible.
But two other commissioners expressed reservations. Commission Chairman Chuck Eaton said he was concerned about "entitlement." The fund is tapped on a regular basis to help the low-income and elderly.
"We're utility regulation. That's what we do," Eaton said.
Commissioner Doug Everett said the primary purpose of the fund is pipeline expansion, not low-income assistance.
"We may want to do what you're asking, but we just don't have the money," Everett said. The fund has less than $14 million that's uncommitted.
If the money is approved, checks would be sent to the gas marketers, not customers. The PSC will vote next Thursday on Speir's motion.
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