Martinsville Bulletin, Inc.
P. O. Box 3711
204 Broad Street
Martinsville, Virginia 24115
276-638-8801
Toll Free: 800-234-6575
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Sunday, November 15, 2009
By ELIZA WINSTON - Bulletin Staff Writer
Appalachian Power and its stockholders are increasing the funds they contribute to help needy customers pay their power bills.
This year, the company and stockholders will provide $1,025,000, and $500,000 of that will go to Virginia customers through the Neighbor-to-Neighbor fund, said Todd Burns, corporate communications manager.
Last year, Appalachian Power and its stockholders put up $210,000, Burns said, and Virginia customers received $100,000 of that money.
Customers also contribute to the fund each year, which helps low-income families pay their electric bills.
Burns acknowledged that Applachian rates have been rising, which further affects customers’ ability to pay their bills.
In 2007, a resident who used 1,000 kilowatt hours per month could expect to pay $71.71 a month, Burns said, but in 2008, that bill increased to $94.24. Beginning Dec. 12, that same resident can expect to pay $115.78 during the interim period Burns said.
However, he said, the rate increases are in response to changing federal standards and rising fuel costs — things outside Appalachian’s power to control.
On Thursday, Appalachian officials announced that the Dollar Energy Fund, a non-profit hardship fund established in 1983, now will administer the Neighbor to Neighbor Program, which will now be a year round program.
The fund will process customers’ applications and if approved, the fund will apply the customers’ grants directly to their Appalachian power bills, said Danielle Snidow, Neighbor-to-Neighbor Virginia program director.
The maximum amount an applicant can receive is $500 per program year, which is Nov. 1, 2009, to Sept. 1, 2010, Snidow said.
To qualify for the program, residents must meet certain criteria, said Snidow. Households must have paid at least $100 on their Appalachian Power bill in the last 90 days to show “sincere effort of payment,” said Snidow. Also, the amount they owe to Appalachian must be at least $100.
Senior citizens who are 62 or over must have paid at least $75 on their account in the past 90 days, she said.
Applicants must have a total gross household income at or below 150 percent of the Federal Poverty Income Guideline, said Snidow. This means that a household with one person must earn a maximum of $16,245 per year and a household with four people could earn up to $33,075 a year.
According to program’s guidelines, the home must be residential and no commercial, industrial or aparmtents with shared utility service will qualify.
Appalachian Power customers in Henry County can fill out applications for funds at Pittsylvania Community Action Agency 58 W. Church St., Martinsville, or the Salvation Army, 603 S. Memorial Blvd., Martinsville.
Patrick County customers can go to Step Inc. at 109 Buena Vista Ave, in Stuart and 109 W. Blue Ridge St. in Stuart.
Since the Dollar Energy Fund began in 1983, it has provided more than $60 million in utility assistance grants to more than 250,000 low-income families and individuals, Snidow said.
It operates in Virginia, West Virgina, Maryland, Tennessee, Ohio and Pennsylvania, according to its Web site. |
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