Recession-Weary Georgians Get New Heating Assistance

ATLANTA, Oct. 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- With cold weather months approaching and more people than ever out of work, SCANA Energy leads the way in contributing heating energy assistance for needy Georgians.  

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"We're proud to once again give $85,000 to the Heating Energy Assistance Team this year," said George Devlin, vice president and general manager of SCANA Energy. "These dollars are needed every year, but probably more so this year than before.  Many Georgia families have lost their jobs in a stubbornly weak economy, and they will need additional assistance to keep their homes warm. We're honored to be able to supply that help."

The assistance is also especially needed now, because of steep cuts in federal funding for energy assistance. "That makes it all the more important for natural gas marketers like SCANA Energy to contribute to help low-income families," said Janet Joseph, Executive Director of H.E.A.T., Inc., a nonprofit group that has distributed more than $20 million to nearly 89,000 families since its inception in 1983.

"The recession has been brutal to some families, and we expect for more Georgia households to need assistance in heating their homes this winter," said Joseph. "We're grateful to SCANA Energy for such a large and generous gift. SCANA's support has helped thousands of low-income Georgia families heat their homes."

In addition to the direct donation, SCANA Energy also encourages its customers to make one-time or monthly contributions to H.E.A.T.  Over the last 11 years, SCANA Energy and its customers have contributed approximately $2 million in energy heating assistance to the needy. SCANA Energy also serves as the sole regulated provider of natural gas in Georgia, and has served low-income and other eligible Georgians through that program since 2002.

"It's what you do to give back to the communities you serve," said Devlin. "We're in Georgia for the long haul, and as long as we can give, Georgia can rest assured that we will."

SCANA Energy serves households and businesses as a leading natural gas marketer in Georgia.  The company also has a regulated unit, SCANA Energy Regulated Division, selected as the state's only regulated natural gas provider.

SOURCE SCANA Energy