Utahns expect state to aid poor with heat

As winter begins in earnest, most Utahns are expecting their state government to step in and financially help low-income residents pay their rising natural gas/home-heating bills, a new poll shows.

Between a June rate hike and a Nov. 1 pass-along increase in natural gas prices, some Utahns will see their monthly home-heating bills jump between 20 percent and 30 percent this winter, experts say.

A Dan Jones & Associates poll for the Deseret Morning News and KSL-TV shows 64 percent of Utahns definitely or probably want state government to make up the expected $3 million extra it will cost low-income Utahns this winter.

Jones found 33 percent disagreed with that idea; 4 percent didn't know.

Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. earlier this month held a press conference to encourage Utahns to donate funds to various groups to help cover the $3 million anticipated shortfall.

At the time, Huntsman would not commit any state money to the effort, saying Utahns have historically stepped up and donated to worthy causes when asked.

The state was running a $55 million surplus in its general funds when Huntsman asked the public to give.

This week, the Utah Tax Commission reported that general-fund surplus has grown to nearly $85 million.

In addition, the state has two so-called "Rainy Day" surplus accounts that top $140 million — which is cash in hand.

Questar Gas Co. and Utah Power already have programs (Reach and Lend-A-Hand) allowing customers to send in extra money with their bills to help low-income Utahns, especially the elderly and disabled, pay their own utility bills. Special requests are going out with November bills from those utilities asking for contributions.

Utahns can also give by dialing 2-1-1, the state's help line, or by visiting the state's Web site home page: www.utah.gov.

Huntsman spokesman Mike Mower said when informed of the poll: "We are always willing to listen. But in the current budget we have no money appropriated for this need" — and so Huntsman can't, on his own, promise any funds.

While willing to look at any needs in the 2006 Legislature, which starts the third Monday in January, Mower said: "Energy prices are coming down and we hope that will continue. And we're optimistic that many of these needs can be addressed through the current programs — Reach and Lend-A-Hand."