Help with Heating Bills & Thanking Our Veterans

November 7, 2025

The weather is getting colder, and you have options to save money while keeping your home warm this winter. I'll break down what resources are available.

We all have an opportunity to thank our veterans in the coming days. Please read below to see when and where you can honor our heroes locally.

November is Alzheimer's Awareness Month. Keep scrolling to learn how the state is helping families, health care providers, and caregivers navigate dementia care.

These are the sections in today's email: 

  • Get Help With Your Heating Bills
  • Thanking Our Veterans
  • Alzheimer’s Awareness Month

 
 

Get Help With Your Heating Bills

There are a number of resources available to help those struggling to pay their heating bills this winter. Below, I will highlight how Generation Power CT, the Connecticut Energy Assistance Program (CEAP), and Eversource are offering vital support before temperatures drop dangerously low.

Generation Power CT Emergency Energy Assistance Program (GPCT) 

Let's start with GPCT, formerly known as Operation Fuel. You can apply for assistance now through Monday, November 10. This program offers a one-time grant of up to $500 to help eligible Connecticut households cover electric, gas, or heating fuel expenses.
Households with up to 75% of the State Median Income (SMI) may qualify. Approved applicants can apply their grant toward a future fuel delivery or use it to pay down a past-due utility bill.

To make the most of this once-per-year grant, GPCT strongly encourages households to apply when energy assistance is needed most. 

There are three remaining application cycles this winter:
November 2-10, 2025 (now)
January 2-10, 2026
March 2-10, 2026
 

These cycles give residents multiple occasions to receive help as energy costs rise. Gather your documents early and apply as soon as the windows open.

👉 Click here to learn more about eligibility requirements and how to apply.

Connecticut Energy Assistance Program (CEAP) 

CEAP provides additional support to lower heating costs. Eligible households can apply for up to $645 in assistance. You can complete an application online by clicking here or by contacting your local Community Action Agency (CAA). Find your local CAA at 211ct.org or call 2-1-1.

Eversource Home Energy Solutions
Eversource also encourages customers to save through a Home Energy Solutions visit. An authorized contractor will evaluate your home's energy performance, make on-the-spot energy-saving improvements, and recommend additional opportunities to boost comfort and save energy. 
Click here to learn more and get started!

Keep in mind that if you provide proof of qualifying household income or public assistance benefits you receive for at least one household member, your service cannot be shut off between now and May 1.

CLICK HERE to learn more about these programs and to find the right options for you.

Together, these programs can make a real difference for households struggling with high energy costs. If you or someone you know could benefit, don’t hesitate to share this email or reach out and explore these options. Every family deserves a warm, safe, and affordable home this winter.
 

Thanking Our Veterans

The community has an opportunity to honor and thank those who served on Veterans Day. You are invited to a special ceremony on Tuesday, November 11 at 11 a.m. at the Connecticut Veterans Memorial located on the corner of North Main Street and Farmington Avenue in West Hartford. If it rains, the ceremony will be held inside the West Hartford Town Hall Auditorium at 50 South Main Street.
Retired U.S. Army Captain Marc Giammatteo will serve as the keynote speaker. In 2003, he fought for our freedoms in Iraq with the Third Armored Cavalry Regiment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, leading more than 100 combat missions. Capt. Giammatteo was severely wounded in 2004 when his combat patrol was ambushed by insurgents with rocket-propelled grenades.

Additionally, the University of Hartford will host a candlelight vigil on Veterans Day at 4 p.m. at Alumni Plaza (Rain Location- Hursey Center).

It’s important that we continue to show our deep appreciation for the men and women who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces and recognize their lasting contributions to our nation. 

Their dedication, courage, and sacrifice have protected our freedoms and upheld the values that define our country. We are profoundly grateful for their service and unwavering commitment. May we always remember that those who live in freedom owe a debt of gratitude to those who fought to protect it.
 

Alzheimer’s Awareness Month

Governor Ned Lamont proclaimed November 2025 as Alzheimer's Awareness Month in Connecticut, bringing greater awareness to the disease and related dementias while recognizing the thousands of Connecticut residents living with the condition and the many caregivers who support them.

The state also released a new Connecticut guide for navigating dementia care designed to help:

  • Residents and families locate local dementia care resources
  • Health care providers and agencies connect patients with appropriate services
  • Caregivers find community support and education
Click here to download a copy in English or Spanish

Alongside this proclamation, House Bill 6771, signed into law as part of Public Act 25-16, introduces several major initiatives to strengthen dementia and Alzheimer’s care statewide. The law:

  • Creates an Alzheimer’s and Dementia Task Force, to guide policy, improve coordination, and recommend strategies for prevention, diagnosis, and care.
  • Requires insurance coverage for biomarker testing, ensuring residents have access to diagnostic tools that can detect Alzheimer’s and related dementias earlier.
  • Adds new measures for improved care access and coordination that support patients, families, caregivers, and healthcare providers.

With greater support, education, and investment, we can move closer to a future where every family facing Alzheimer’s receives the care, understanding, and dignity they deserve.