Letter to Mr. Rex W. Tillerson, Mr. John S. Watson, Mr. Malvin E. Odum, Mr. James J Mulva, Mr. Lamar McKay

Letter

In light of the news that Connecticut's Operation Fuel, a crucial element in the state's home heating assistance safety net, has stopped accepting applications for the winter, today Congressman Chris Murphy (CT-5) wrote a letter to major oil companies asking that they step in to provide assistance to help keep families from going cold in the remaining weeks of winter.

"The oil companies are swimming in money. The least they can do is help people in need get access to their increasingly unaffordable product. While this has been a brutal winter for Connecticut families, organizations like Operation Fuel have done incredible work to keep the heat on in homes across the state, and they deserve the help in finishing the job," said Murphy.

Murphy's letter went to ExxonMobil, ConocoPhillips, Shell Oil, Chevron, and BP America. This week, these companies reported $29 billion in profits for the fourth quarter of 2010, $77 billion in profits for the entirety of 2010, and $952 billion in total profits over the last decade.

Connecticut average home heating oil prices are up nearly a dollar per gallon since the beginning of the heating season, a price increase of nearly one-third. Meanwhile, for the first time in its 34-year history, the state-chartered energy assistance non-profit Operation Fuel was forced to stop accepting applications for new aid at the end of February. Operation Fuel fills the gaps in aid when an applicant doesn't meet income qualifications or has exceeded their allotment for federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program support. During the last week of January, Operation Fuel's fuel banks processed more applications than they did for the entire month of January 2010.

"Put simply, my constituents and others like them are suffering terribly this winter. While state agencies and non-profits do their best to stretch available assistance dollars as far as possible, I am hopeful that the oil companies can lend and hand and help us weather this especially-difficult winter heating season," said Murphy.

Mr. Rex W. Tillerson
Chairman and cEO
ExxonMobil Corporation
595 Las Colinas Boulevard
Irving, TX 75039-2298

Mr. John S. Watson
Chairman and CEO
Chevron Corporation
6001 Bollinger Canyon Road
San Ramon, CA 94583

Mr. Malvin E. Odum
President
Shell Oil Company
Post Office Box 2463
Houston, TX 7752

Mr. James J Mulva
Chairman and CEO
ConocoPhillips Company
Post OfficeBox 2197
Houston, TX 77252-2197

Mr. Lamar McKay
Chairman and President
BP America, Incorporated
501 Westlake Park Boulevard
Houston, TX 77079

Dear Sirs,

I am writing today to ask for your help in meeting the growing demand for need-based home heating assistance in cold weather states. The rapid rise in retail petroleum prices, coupled with a sluggish economic recovery and an especially harsh winter, has forced many families in states like mine to seek additional assistance when it comes to paying their heating bills. As leaders if the five largest oil companies operating in the United states, I'm hoping you'll be able to help keep struggling families from going cold this winter.

In my home state of Connecticut, things have grown especially dire this winter. In my district and across the state, average home heating oil prices are up nearly a dollar per gallon since the beginning of the heating season, a price increase of nearly one-third. 52 percent of households in Connecticut use home heating oil, making it the largest energy source for home heating in the state by far.

Just as alarming, many of the safety net programs that lower-income Connecticut residents rely on during the winter simply can't keep pace with demand this season. For the first time in its 34-year history, Operation Fuel, the statewide energy assistance non-profit, was forced to stop accepting applications for new aid at the end of February. During that last week of January this year, Operation Fuel's fuel banks processed more applications than they did for the entire month of January 2010. Despite full- or near-full funding of the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) over the last several years, the program will only be able to cover only about half of home heating costs for the average low-income household this season. At the same time, the program will serve a record-breaking estimated 8.9 million households nationally.

Put simply, my constituents and others like them are suffering this winter. While state agencies and non-profits do their est to stretch available assistance dollars as far as possible, I am hopeful that you companies can lend a hand and help us weather this especially-difficult winter heating season. Reports have indicated that you companies have enjoyed substantial and sustained profits in recent years. suggesting that you have significant capital available to fund this limited and much-needed assistance. As concerned corporate citizens, I know you share my concern for millions of American families struggling during this cold winter.

Sincerely,

Christopher S. Murphy
Member of Congress

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