PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- More than 30,000 Rhode Islanders who rely on federal funding for heating fuel assistance have yet to receive their applications this year due to a computer problem, state officials said Monday.
But Marion Gold, head of the Office of Energy Resources, said that the problem was just resolved and that the applications will be sent out this week -- about a month late.
Gold said she does not believe the delay left any people without heat because regional Community Action agencies and other assistance organizations were able to help out by tapping other funding sources.
She said that the problem was getting the client information into a new database.
The state typically receives about $22 million for its Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.
-- With reports by the Associated Press