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Running on Empty in Vermont
One day I was sitting in Rutland, waiting for my truck to be inspected, so I picked up a few local papers. I flipped through them until I came across an article in The Addison Eagle on July 12, 2012 entitled “Changes in Vermont’s Winter Fuel Assistance Program”. This peaked my interest as I am permanently disabled and survive on food stamps, my disability check and my fuel assistance. I live alone w/my pets in Mendon VT where I have a small business start-up called Second Wind Creations, growing slowly. I, being an activist and an advocate for the V.C.I.L.-the Vermont Center for Independent Living, knew I had to do something. I rushed home and started making calls.
The article in The Eagle basically said this: Heating fuel dealers that participate in the Vermont Fuel Assistance Program can expect several changes this coming winter. The existing rule that allows dealers to use 17 percent of the current fuel benefit to pay for a customer’s back balance will likely be eliminated. There is also a proposal to limit crisis fuel to one delivery if a customer receives seasonal fuel assistance and two deliveries if they do not. What is not going away is the fuel dealer discount, which last year was set at 10-cents per gallon or the dealer’s cash discount, whichever was greater. Oil and propane dealers will not be alone. The largest fuel assistance supplier in the state will also have to lower their prices for fuel assistance customers. Section 13 of Act 136 requires the Public Service Board to ensure that Vermont Gas Systems provides a discount to their fuel assistance customers, just as heating oil and propane marketers have done since 2008. However, it is unclear if that discount will be set by the Public Service Board in time for the 2012-2013 heating season. Several other changes that were expected have been delayed another year. The fuel assistance office had considered a margin over rack leveraging program to dictate the price charged to fuel assistance customers, however, this is no longer under consideration for this winter. Also delayed are the much discussed fuel assistance “web portal” and payment after delivery system. The web portal would eliminate refund reports and allow the state to pay dealers after they deliver, not before. While there won’t be a web portal this winter, the fuel assistance office is going all digital. In November, participating fuel dealers will receive a password protected email with a spreadsheet showing their fuel assistance customers and benefit amount, along with lump sum payment from the fuel assistance office. At the end of the season, dealers will e-mail back a spreadsheet showing how the funds were accounted for. An early projection for the 2012-2013 heating season puts the average fuel assistance benefit at $543 per home. This is compared to the $900 per home average last winter. Why the decrease? Congress is expected to hold the line on funding at $3.4 billion, of which approximately $19.5 million goes to Vermont.
So, to make a long story short, I started a march to the State House in Montpelier, Vermont on September 8, 2012 called Running on Empty in Vermont at noon to try to make a difference. I invite all Vermonter’s who are unhappy with the cuts. Senator’s Leahy and Bernie Sanders, Peter Welch and Governor Shumlin are fighting the cuts but the president seems locked in there. Until we see it in writing, I do not think we can rely on any changes being made. I am hoping to guarantee all you people who rely on fuel assistance to get your second check in January, 2013. I ask anyone coming to the event to RSVP me at 802-747-9944~Twowindbags@aol.com with questions. We sure could use some donations as I am working 3 jobs to pay for everything and I am in pain. We still need a banner for our table and ad space paid for. VPR and PEGTV are covering the event. Price Chopper and Awesome Graphics have been our staunchest contributors. Peace.
RUNNING ON EMPTY IN VERMONT
SEPTEMBER 8, 2012 NOON ~BE THERE OR BE SQUARE!
MONTPELIER STATE HOUSE LAWN, MONTPELIER, VT
THE VERMONT FUEL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM HAS BEEN SLASHED APPROXIMATELY IN HALF FOR THIS WINTER SEASON FROM $800-900 A YEAR PER FAMILY TO APPROXIMATELY $543. THE PEOPLE ON FUEL ASSISTANCE CANNOT USE THEIR FUEL ASSISTANCE MONEY TO PAY THEIR BACK BALANCE. THIS MEANS UNTIL THEY DO, THEY CANNOT GET A DELIVERY. THIS ALSO MEANS THAT THE POOR, DISABLED, BLIND, PARAPLEGIC, ELDERLY, SINGLE MOTHERS AND LOW INCOME VERMONTERS WILL FREEZE THIS WINTER. LARGER FUEL COMPANIES WILL DROP PRICES FOR FUEL ASSISTANCE CUSTOMERS BUT I AM UNSURE WHICH ONES AT THIS DATE. THERE WILL BE A JAZZ BAND MARCHING WITH US IF WE GET ENOUGH ATTENDEES AND VARIOUS CORPORATIONS LIKE PRICE CHOPPER/GOLUB & SMALL BUSINESSES HAVE VOLUNTEERED ASSISTANCE. ALL VERMONT DEMOCRATIC POLITICIANS HAVE BEEN INFORMED AS HAS THE V.C.I.L-VT CENTER FOR INDEPENDENMT LIVING. I AM THEIR ADVOCATE. ONE VAN HOLDING 7PP WILL BE AVAILABLE FROM CASTETON AT THIS DATE. WE AWAIT FURTHER DONATIONS FOR GAS FOR THE DISABLED.
WE NEED TO PULL TOGETHER AND MARCH TO THE STATE HOUSE AND MAKE OUR NEEDS AND RIGHTS KNOWN. WE MAY BE THE LOWER 98% BUT WE ARE HUMAN BEINGS AND WE NEED TO BE TREATED AS SUCH. THIS WILL BE A POSITIVELY PEACEFUL MARCH. THERE WILL BE RESPECT GIVEN TO THE MONTPELIER CITY POLICE. PLEASE LEAVE YOUR PETS HOME. THERE WILL BE NO DRUGS, BOOZE OR SMOKING PERMITTED. ANY QUESTIONS, DONATIONS OR ASSISTANCE CALL: 802-747-9944~~RSVP IF YOU ARE COMING!
SUSAN MEADOWS WIND, DISABLED ACTIVIST & OWNER OF SECOND WIND CREATIONS IN MENDON AT 802-747-9944 ~ SMART PASSIONATE PEOPLE MAKE CHANGE HAPPEN! PLEASE MAKE YOUR OWN SIGNS. I HAVE THE REST. PEACE.
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