With summer utility moratoriums in many states across the U.S. extending into the great unknown of the Covid 19 shutdown, which shows no clear signs of ending anytime soon, one message many communities were working overtime to send to their citizens is that they were doing everything they could to make up the difference. In the hard-hit region across Pennsylvania, DHS Secretary Theresa Miller communicated a message of understanding and encouragement to apply along with the state’s helping hand, explaining that “we know that the COVID-19 public health crisis and subsequent economic insecurity have led to trouble balancing essentials such as home energy bills. Any Pennsylvanian who is struggling to pay utilities should know that they are not alone during this time. DHS administers safety-net programs to support families across the commonwealth and help them get through times like these. LIHEAP Recovery Crisis is available through the end of the month, and any Pennsylvanian having trouble paying home energy bills should apply and see if they qualify for a little extra help. There should be no shame or stigma associated with asking for assistance, and no one should be afraid to ask for help. These are incredibly challenging times, but that’s why DHS and programs like LIHEAP Recovery Crisis exist – to make difficult times a little easier so we have what we need to get by and emerge stronger on the other side.”
The story was much the same across Maryland and Delaware, where utility Delmarva Power was doing its best to spread the word to customers in need about their eligibility to receive more than $1000 in LIHEAP support toward their summer energy burden, with region President Gary Stockbridge, assuring the public that “we are committed to helping all our customers meet their energy needs and manage their bills. If customers are facing challenges, we encourage them to review the different programs and billing options we offer and take advantage of available energy assistance. Our Customer Care team is ready to help all customers review their payment options and support them in managing their energy needs.”
Alongside LIHEAP, these states were tapping every other resource available to help their residents, including The Good Neighbor Energy Fund, which Delmarva Power explained “works with the Salvation Army and other local organizations to offer energy assistance to Delaware and Maryland low-income customers. The fund allows for customers to pay exactly $1 over their monthly Delmarva Power bill, which goes to the associated non-profit organization in their community. Delmarva Power matches contributions with $1 for every $3 that is collected, up to $70,000.”
Down South, energy assistance partners like Community Action Kentucky were pushing out the word on their Summer Cooling Program, which like the aforementioned efforts was “designed to help offset the cost of higher electric bills due to rising temperatures, the program is the network’s latest resource to help families during the COVID-19 public health crisis,” according to the News Democrat Leader. Roger McCann, Executive Director of the CAA, shared the urgent word that “Kentuckians are already under financial pressure from the effects of COVID-19. Now as summer temperatures rise their increasing cooling bills will add to that burden . I’m thankful that through our partnership with the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, we were able to offer this summer cooling program to provide relief at this crucial time.”
In Illinois, demand was as high as the brutal summer temperatures, with a record 364 calls on Monday and 289 on Tuesday coming into energy assistance providers around the state, according to The Prairie Advocate, with State LIHEAP Director Tammy Saenz adding that her office expected that volume to keep up all summer for the simple fact that “I don’t see COVID slowing down anytime soon, and it has affected a lot of people. There are people with wonderful jobs that got let go because of COVID, and their bills keep going up. It’s affected everybody. There’s enough money to go around. We have no clue what this winter is going to be like.”
Up in neighboring Minnesota, officials were stretching every dollar they could, with the Detroit Lakes City Council allotting a portion of Federal funding from the CARES Act to green-light a grant program for local households struggling to keep up with past-due power bills, the Detroit Lakes Tribune shared the welcome news that “Council members unanimously passed a motion that would allocate up to $22,500 in CARES Act funding for the new program, which would be developed in partnership with Mahube-Otwa Community Action. The aim of the program would be to bring the city’s delinquent utility accounts current by Nov. 15 — the earliest date that new funding from the federal Low Income Heat Energy Assistance Program would become available through Mahube. Customers who already receive LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) assistance from the federal government would receive the bulk of the grant funding.” Even with this positive in-the-moment assistance, Vernell Roberts, general manager of Detroit Lakes Public Utilities, added the cautionary note that “even with the energy assistance Mahube provides, we still have customers that became delinquent during this period. The next funding opportunity to receive energy assistance will likely start in November, and this leaves a significant gap for people needing assistance.”
Deeper South the story was much the same, with Georgians receiving word through The Partnership for Community Action, Inc. that residents of DeKalb, Gwinnett, Rockdale, Newton, and Walton counties would be eligible for emergency LIHEAP CARES energy assistance throughout the month of July. The CAA noted that the additional assistance was a group effort, whereby “a portion of the funds are from the Public Service Commission. Those that are eligible will be able to apply for this one-time CARES assistance payment of either $350 or $400 to help with the high cost of energy bills. Eligible clients may only receive a one-time payment per program year.”
Next door in Alabama, the Ma-Chis Lower Creek Indian Tribe received news that LIHEAP assistance was available from July through the end of September, with WTVY reporting that the grant “allows for financial assistances for tribal members to cover the cost associated with cooling, home weatherization, and crisis instances such as those with documented medical conditions, experiencing a sudden job loss or other benefits and income, heating equipment malfunction, domestic violence and those with shut off notices.”
Reporting by J.B.
Sources:
2. https://sbybiz.org/energy-assistance-available-for-delmarva-power-customers/
6. http://news.monroelocal.org/liheap-cares-is-offering-applications-for-relief-in-high-energy-bills/