SAVANNAH, Ga. — In a move to support those struggling with heating costs this winter, the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) has declared that $5 million will be allocated to aid natural gas consumers. The announcement was made on Wednesday, highlighting the commission’s commitment to assisting residents during the colder months.

Approximately half of this funding is set to benefit nearly 13,000 customers who are part of the senior citizen discount initiative offered by Atlanta Gas Light. These seniors are expected to receive a one-time credit of around $194, which will be added to their regular monthly discounts.

Additionally, $2 million of the funds will be directed to HopeWorks, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the repair and replacement of gas furnaces and water heaters. Furthermore, the Salvation Army’s utility assistance program is slated to receive $500,000 to help those in need.

According to a PSC spokesperson, customers enrolled in these assistance programs can anticipate seeing the credits reflected on their bills starting in November.

Customers using these programs will start seeing credits on bills in November, a PSC spokesperson said. 

The funding will be released from the state Universal Service Fund (USF), which assists low-income consumers in Georgia.