Gas Assistance Program (GAP)
In October 2020, Connecticut passed a law enabling the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) to direct funds to GPCT (then known as Operation Fuel) when issuing financial penalties to investor-owned utility, energy supplier, telecom, and other PURA-regulated companies in our state. Between July 2023-August 2024, PURA directed funds from six Notices of Violation (NOVs) to GPCT, to be spent on “gas customers experiencing difficulties.”
Initially GPCT spent the funds on our emergency energy assistance programs, in particular to help gas customers with high arrearages. However, with the majority of our clients seeking assistance with oil and electricity costs, we needed an approach to spend the funds more quickly. By partnering with Home Energy ConneCT (HECT), we developed the Gas Assistance Program (GAP) in March 2025.
We developed GAP to braid funding sources, expand partnerships, improve administrative efficiency, support small businesses specializing in building remediation work (jobs that can’t be outsourced from Connecticut), and most importantly – provide more meaningful benefits for program participants.
GAP has two primary goals:
- to reduce energy burden for eligible gas ratepayers in Connecticut, by improving safety, comfort, and affordability of their homes
- to address gaps in Connecticut’s existing market for barrier remediation, weatherization, and energy efficiency programs.
GPCT’s Role
- Identify potential clients
- Review project scopes
- Manage budget
- Fund projects
- Report spending to the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA)
Home Energy ConneCT’s Role:
- Identify pre-qualified clients deferred from weatherization and energy efficiency services
- Navigate project options to leverage additional project funds
- Identify contractor partners
- Manage project execution
- Analyze data
Click Here for More information on Home Energy ConneCT
“…It was such a relief to be in a warm home! Thank you so much for the insight, support, and advocacy. We really couldn’t have obtained this win without your help!”
– Chelsea H, GAP Client
Our Reports
Docket 24-07-09, Assessment of Civil Penalty Against Yankee Gas Services Company for Pipeline Safety Violations.
Date Issued: July 29, 2024
The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) directed $98,000 in civil penalties to GPCT, “to provide financial assistance to gas customers experiencing difficulties.” GPCT received in August 2024. In partnership with Home Energy ConneCT, GPCT is investing the funds in barrier remediation and efficient heating equipment for income-qualified gas ratepayers in CT. Our final report will be available in August 2026.
Docket 24-06-23, Assessment of Civil Penalty Against Connecticut Natural Gas Corporation for Pipeline Safety Violations.
Date Issued: July 29, 2024
Between August 16, 2024 and January 9, 2026, GPCT spent $98,000 from this civil penalty, to support limited-income gas ratepayers in Connecticut. The funds supported both direct bill assistance to GPCT clients, as well as home improvements for eligible households. Our investments included almost $30,000 in mold remediation and asbestos abatement; as well as more than $12,000 in insulation and weatherization. Our partnership with HECT enabled six previously deferred customers to access energy efficiency programs, unlocking an additional $18,000 in utility incentives.
Docket 23-12-16, Assessment of Civil Penalty Against Yankee Gas Services Company for Pipeline Safety Violations.
Date Issued: January 03, 2024
Between January 23, 2024-December 2, 2025, GPCT spent $98,000 of these funds on the Gas Assistance Program (GAP), in partnership with Home Energy ConneCT. In addition to repairing and replacing non-functioning furnaces and hot water heaters, we directed the NOV funds to remediate mold, asbestos, and other health and safety barriers that prevent implementation of further energy efficiency and cost-saving measures. We supported 11 total projects, including mold and asbestos remediation, heating system upgrades, and appliance replacement. Thanks to GAP, six previously deferred customers could return to Connecticut’s energy efficiency programs. Our investment unlocked an additional $27,000 in utility incentives.
Docket 23-06-40, Assessment of Civil Penalty Against Yankee Gas Services Company for Pipeline Safety Violations.
Date Issued: July 26, 2023
Between November 21, 2023 and October 22, 2025, GPCT distributed $198,000 from this civil penalty. We provided more than $116,000 in direct bill assistance and invested more than $22,000 in GAP projects for income-qualified gas ratepayers. The GAP projects included 8 asbestos abatement and 4 mold remediation projects, as well as a heat pump hot water heater upgrade.
Docket 23-06-41, Assessment of Civil Penalty Against the Southern Connecticut Gas Company for Pipeline Safety Violations.
Date Issued: July 26, 2023
Between August 10, 2023 and July 31, 2025, GPCT spent $498,000 received through this civil penalty on gas customers experiencing difficulties. More than $156,000 went to direct bill assistance for GPCT clients. In Fiscal Year 2025, only 10% of emergency assistance requests we received came from gas customers, which limited our ability to distribute the funds this way. After launching GAP in March 2025 through a partnership with Home Energy ConneCT, we directed remaining funds to support asbestos abatement, mold remediation, heat pump hot water heater installations, and other services. Our investments enabled 21 deferred residences to return to Connecticut’s energy efficiency programs, unlocking an estimated value of $66,000 in additional scopes.
Docket 23-06-42, Assessment of Civil Penalty Against Connecticut Natural Gas Company for Pipeline Safety Violations.
Date Issued: July 26, 2023
etween September 2024 and May 2025, GPCT distributed $298,000 in NOV funds to provide direct bill assistance to 89 gas ratepayer households, reaching 210 residents. By focusing our investment on clients with high arrearages, we relieved not only those families, but also prevented these uncollectible costs from being socialized across all ratepayers. Sixty four percent of the families we supported rented their homes; 44% reported a vulnerable-aged household member. The average income of assisted households was less than 34% State Median Income (SMI).
“In many cases the homeowners were unable to afford to pay for the out-of-pocket [remediation]. Homeowners financing projects at a low interest rate is long and tedious and became a barrier. With Generation Power CT and NHS to help pay for the costs of remediation, many projects came into being.” – Richard Shultz, ENCO (GAP Contractor)
