CALHOUN RESIDENTS CAN GET HELP WITH UTILITY BILLS

(08/15/2009)
There is financial help available for Calhoun County citizens who are having trouble paying utility bills.

The West Virginia Utility Assistance Program (WV-UAP) an initiative of Dollar Energy Fund, Inc., has money available to assist low-income Calhoun residents.

Funds are distributed to Calhoun County citizens by the Salvation Army in Parkersburg.

So far no Calhoun citizens have made use of this program, according to Amy Weintraub, a volunteer for the initiative.

Amount owed must be more than $100 and the consumer must have paid at least $100 in the past 3 months.

The payments are made directly to the utility company.

For help call (304) 485-4529. A trip to Parkersburg is not necessary if you can fax documents.

Utility assistance grants from the WV-UAP program are distributed on a first come, first serve basis and applicants must meet specific criteria in order to qualify.

These criteria include: a sincere effort of payment in the previous 90 days, an income equal to or less than 150 percent of the Federal Poverty Income Guideline and an active termination notice/broken agreement letter or disconnected utility service.

The West Virginia Utility Assistance Program is a private non-profit organization that relies on voluntary donations from individuals, business and foundations.

The program's unique partnership with utility companies doubles the impact of each donation by matching it dollar for dollar and providing 100% of the original contribution and matching dollars to low-income households in the form of utility assistance grants.

Contributions to the West Virginia Utility Assistance Program can be made via a pledge added to a monthly utility bill or a one-time donation to the program.

Donations may also be made online at www.dollarenergyfund.org or by check, payable to Dollar Energy Fund, sent to P.O. Box 3979, Charleston, WV 25339.