BLOOMFIELD, Conn. -- Utility customers can soon add more than just $1 to Operation Fuel's Add-a-Dollar program.

Though the program's name will remain unchanged, gas and electrical utility customers can add any amount over $1 to their monthly bills paid by mail or electronically.

Video: Donation Amount No Longer Limited To $1

All of the donations to the program go toward emergency energy assistance, and utility companies contribute a matching percentage. Last winter, the Add-a-Dollar program raised more than $385,000 for Operation Fuel, a nonprofit, statewide program that provides emergency energy assistance to working families, the elderly and disabled people in need.

Last winter, Operation Fuel gave out more than $1 million to Connecticut residents for emergency fuel assistance.

The Bush administration has released on Wednesday nearly $13.6 million in additional federal funding for the program, the governor's office announced. The program remains about $10.7 million short of its projected need, a shortfall the state will cover if necessary.

According to the state Department of Social Services, almost 17,000 eligible households have already requested “crisis” winter heating aid -- about twice as many as last January, when the figure was 8,700.

Operation Fuel coordinates all the local efforts to assist residents with heating assistance. Program officials said that this year, people's state money is disappearing quicker than ever.

Anyone can send donations to the program at the following address:

Operation Fuel Inc.
1 Regency Drive
Suite 200
Bloomfield, CT 06002

Also, donations can be sent online via Operation Fuel's Web site.

Video: Operation Fuel Inundated With Calls