Mount Sinai, NY - November 29, 2016 -  Suffolk County Legislator Sarah Anker has partnered with PSEG Long Island and the Suffolk County Department of Social Services to increase access to PSEG’s Household Assistance Rate (HAR) program. The HAR program offers qualified PSEG customers a reduction in the Delivery & System Charges portion of their monthly energy bill. In order to qualify, customers must be enrolled in one of the following programs: Public Assistance, Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), Veteran’s Disability Pension, Veteran’s Surviving Spouse Pension, or Child Health Plus.

Previously, qualified customers were not notified of the HAR program. However, Legislator Anker has been working with PSEG and the Department of Social Service (DSS) to create a streamlined process that alerts residents of the program and creates an automatic enrollment option.

The new process allows qualified DSS clients to be automatically enrolled in the HAR program if they are a recipient of one of the above-mentioned programs. Customers will be notified about the Household Assistance Rate program in one of three ways: DSS clients will be automatically enrolled when DSS notifies PSEG that a customer receives one of the above assistance programs, phone calls will go out to all HEAP residents that are on the auto-pay program, and flyers with the information will be distributed and provided with HEAP applications.  

“I am incredibly pleased with the progress that has been made by the Department of Social Services and PSEG Long Island,” said Legislator Anker. “The new process to enroll residents in the Household Assistance Rate program will benefit many citizens and I look forward to continuing to advocate for reduced utility costs, especially for those living on fixed incomes.”

To find out if you qualify or if you have questions about the Household Assistance Rate (HAR) program, please contact the Suffolk County Department of Social Services at 631-854-9930.