DATCP: Secretary Nilsestuen: Oil Companies Should Assist with High Heating Bills

Even a small portion of the billions in oil company profits can assist those in need

Release: 12/30/05
Contact: Secretary Rod Nilsestuen (608) 224-5013

MADISON-Major multi-national oil companies should assist Wisconsin families with rising heating bills during a time when these corporations continue to set record-breaking profits, said Rod Nilsestuen, Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP).

On December 1, 2005, DATCP, at the direction of Governor Jim Doyle, held a hearing to ask the world’s five largest oil companies to account for the record-breaking profits. At the hearing, a request was made of the companies to make a contribution to Wisconsin programs to assist people with paying their energy bills. Representatives of the oil companies agreed to carry that request back to the corporations and provide a response as soon as possible. As of December 30, 2005, a response to that request has not been received.

Nilsestuen is urging the five major oil companies to take “even one or two tenths of a percentage point of your most recent quarterly profits” in order to assist the increasing number of residents needing assistance with energy bills.

“Since it became apparent that heating fuel prices would rise dramatically this winter, Governor Doyle has made it a priority to direct additional state resources to help people pay their bills,” Secretary Nilsestuen said. “But the state alone does not have adequate resources to respond to the tremendous need in Wisconsin. I hope the major oil companies can help Wisconsin families struggling to pay their heating bills.”

In one year, Wisconsin has seen more than an 88 percent increase in payments through the Wisconsin Public Benefits funds and more than a 40 percent increase in payments through the Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program, Nilsestuen pointed out.

So far this season, over 78,000 Wisconsin residents have requested assistance from the Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program and those numbers are expected to continue to climb.