ECA serves families across Philadelphia through its network of Neighborhood Energy Centers (NEC's) that serve as “one-stop-shops” for all low-income energy services. Trained counselors at the NEC's prevent utility emergencies by helping families obtain energy assistance grants and utility payment agreements. NEC counselors provide budget counseling and also intake for conservation and home repair programs that offer more permanent solutions to the problem of energy affordability.

During our last fiscal year the NEC's prevented 25,642 utility terminations.

Together, ECA and the NEC's provide over 86,000 energy services to more than 40,000 low income households every year.

Core Services

Each NEC provides a core group of energy services which includes:

Bill Payment Assistance

• Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) intake
• Crisis intake
• Utility Emergency Services Fund intake
• Emergency Oil grants through Grandom Oil and others
• PECO Energy Customer Assistance Program intake
• Referral to other bill payment assistance programs
• Negotiation with utility companies

Conservation

• Water conservation
• Referral to other programs

Education

• Energy counseling
• Conservation workshops
• Budget counseling
• Energy education in-home

Related Services

• Job development
• Housing counseling
• Community Connections Initiative