Niagara Mohawk to expand programs to aid low-income families.

Byline: Kevin Harlin

Aug. 25--ALBANY -- Niagara Mohawk will provide an extra $5 million to programs that will help low-income families lower their gas heating bills this winter.

The State Public Service Commission on Wednesday voted to approve the utility's plan to spend the money from a pool of interstate pipeline fees that federal regulators had ordered be returned to rate-payers.

The utility will expand two existing programs:

--The Assisted Performance with Energy Star helps low-income families install insulation, replace windows and make other infrastructure improvements to reduce heating bills. The money will help an additional 580 …