OUR ASPIRATIONS
- Ensure all people in CT have a safety net in energy or water crisis;
- Ensure all people in CT feel heard when they express their energy needs;
- Ensure all people in CT can access affordable heat, energy, and water;
- Improve the health and economic wellbeing of all people in CT by reducing their energy burden;
- Improve our environment by advancing sustainable solutions;
- Inspire strong coalitions of public, private, and nonprofit partners who join us in our work.
OUR HISTORY OF HELPING
Operation Fuel was founded in 1977 after a worldwide oil embargo caused an unprecedented escalation in the price of home heating. Although federal and state governments had developed energy assistance programs for families experiencing poverty, low-income working families who were not eligible for government help and in crisis were left out in the cold.
To address the crisis in Connecticut, a collaboration among religious communities, industry leaders in banking, insurance, and utilities, Father Thomas Lynch, and Governor Ella Grasso created Operation Fuel, intended to provide relief for residents who fell through the gaps of government assistance programs.
1977
GOV. ELLA GRASSO
Established OPF to address home heating crisis:
A burden impacting working families who did not qualify for fed/ state energy assistance.
1983
DIANE CASEY LEE
Add-a-Dollar program was written into law:
Collaboration between Government, Operation Fuel, and Utility companies.
2007
PAT WRICE
Launched Energy Affordability Gap Study:
The difference between what energy bills are and what people can afford.
2008
GOV. JODI RELL
Operation Fuel receives its first program infrastructure grant of $15 million.
2015
SBC
Operation Fuel receives $2.1 million:
These funds are allocated annually from rate payers in perpetuity.
2020
10% PURA FINES
Per the Take Back Our Grid Act of 2020:
Operation Fuel was identified to receive up to 10% of PURA fines.
2022
1st FED GRANT
Via the EPA, Operation Fuel is to receive a $30,000 grant:
This grant will help promote environmental health in local communities.
In 1983, the Connecticut General Assembly passed Public Act 83-505 mandating gas and electric companies serving more than 75,000 customers to provide an opportunity for their customers to add one dollar to their monthly bill payment, with the contributions forwarded to Operation
Fuel. These funds were, and are, to be used solely for direct assistance to Connecticut households.
The effective date of the Add-a-Dollar program was October 1, 1983. During the 1989 legislative session, Public Act 83-505 was amended to delete reference to the Christian Conference of Connecticut (which had been the operator of the Operation Fuel program prior to its attainment of independent 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status), and to designate Operation Fuel, Inc. as the recipient and administrator of Add-a-Dollar funds. During the 2006 legislative season, the law was amended again to provide an opportunity for customers to contribute more than one dollar and to mandate participation by municipal utilities.
Until you’re there, you’ll never understand what people without heat go through. Nobody should have to go cold. I’m truly grateful, and I have 100% faith in Operation Fuel’s cause.
Judi, a Vernon resident
