Assistance available to keep houses warm
Published 1:44 pm Thursday, October 2, 2008
SNOQUALMIE VALLEY – The inevitable cold snap that comes with winter may cause people to shiver, but local organizations and utility providers are hoping they can prevent them from freezing.
Brian Lenz, manager of community relations in east King County for Puget Sound Energy, said the utility company is trying to organize a reduced rate for low-income families.
“We would base the rate around the time-of-day rate [rating system that charges users depending on what time of day the power is used],” Lenz said. “We hope to have it finalized by October.”
Puget Sound Energy already has a Warm House Fund that it sponsors with donations from customers and employees. The program, which the company runs with the help of the Salvation Army, gave out about $8,000 of the $600,000 raised last year to Valley residents.
Private utilities are not alone in offering help for those needing financial assistance when heating bills arrive. The Energy Assistance Center, based out of Carnation, helps families from all over the Valley who have trouble paying their utility bills. Although the federally funded program gave away $124,000 last year to 269 households in the Valley to help pay for heat, the need is greater than the resources.
“We’re always underfunded,” said Manager Tim Lockwood. “We know there are more people out there who are not coming in, too.”
In response to the growing cost of living in the Valley, cities have started to offer reduced rates to low-income senior citizens and disabled persons for other utilities.
North Bend offers its water, sewer and garbage utilities at about 54 percent of the normal rate to seniors and disabled people who qualify. All residents need to do is fill out a one-page application that is then signed by a notary before it is submitted.
To be eligible for senior rates, a resident must be at least 65 years old and have a household income below the poverty line set by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The annual gross earnings of a single individual must not exceed $25,250. For two people the rate is $28,900, and for three it is $36,100. Families of four or more earning $36,100 or less are also eligible.
North Bend City Secretary Paula York said 27 of the city’s residents currently take advantage of the reduced rate.
City Treasurer Elena Montgomery said the money lost by offering the reduced rate does not hurt the city financially.
“It’s not a substantial amount,” Montgomery said.
The city of Snoqualmie offers a similar program on all of its utilities. The income to qualify is slightly lower than that of North Bend, and Snoqualmie residents are eligible when they reach age 62. City Clerk Jodi Warren said about 17 Snoqualmie residents take advantage of the discounted rates.
Low-income seniors and disabled persons may even qualify for reduced cable rates. For these people, AT&T Corp. offers its basic broadband cable service for 30 percent less than a full-paying customer. AT&T Broadband Spokesman Steve Kipp said the company offers the reduced rate because it sees cable access as being vital communication for some homebound seniors.
“This is the only connection some have to the outside world,” Kipp said. “The only way a lot of people, especially out there, can keep connected to government channels is through cable.”
