Because of a demand for assistance, the weather, and the price of heating a home, Operation Fuel has stopped taking applications for energy assistance.

Director Pat Wrice says working poor families received a relatively small benefit from the state energy program.

Wrice says those families turned to Operations Fuel earlier this year.

“The weather was a factor, and heating oil was almost $4.00 per gallon,” Wrice said. “If someone were to get a tank of oil, it would have been over a thousand dollars.”

Wrice says the average tank holds about 250 gallons.

Operation Fuel will resume taking applications on April 29.

Until that time, shut-off prevention programs are in effect, to prevent electric and gas customers from losing service during he cold months.