Low income customers can get help to pay PSE bills

For low income customers, paying energy bills can be a hefty burden.

But many people might not realize there’s help. More than $3 million remains available for qualified PSE customers to help pay their electric and natural gas bills. It’s money that’s been set aside to assist those who need it most, according to a PSE media release.

PSE’s Home Energy Lifeline Program (HELP) provides qualified customers with additional bill payment assistance beyond that offered by the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). HELP is administered by local agencies in partnership with PSE.

Now is the time to act: those agencies are eager to qualify eligible customers to the bill payment assistance program by the end of September.

The assistance to households that’s provided on a year-round basis is to lessen the impact of bills during certain times of year when energy costs are the highest, such as during cold winter months when heat is used to warm our homes.

“This assistance, intended to help keep customers connected to vital energy services and stretch their budgets for other necessities like food and rent, was used by nearly 34,000 families over the last 10 months,” said Suzanne Sasville, who manages PSE’s low income energy assistance program. “We know more people could use the help, and appointments for applying for assistance at the agencies are wide open. We have a team ready to help.”

Depending on income and household size, a qualified low income recipient can receive up to $1,000 from HELP. The amount of aid given to a PSE electricity or natural gas customer depends on household size, income and energy usage.

The program is open to residential customers with household earnings up to 150 percent of the federal poverty guideline. For a family of four, the net income cap in several Western Washington counties is $2,981 per month.

For more information and to see if they qualify, PSE customers can call 1-866-223-5425 or go to pse.com.