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DENVER – Colorado’s winter months usher in cold-weather fun and
scenic getaways for many. But for those less-fortunate, the cold and
snow highlight a season of worry about how to keep up with high bills
and stay warm and safe.
Energy Outreach Colorado, a non-profit organization that raises money
for energy assistance, has seen its average assistance payment rise by 8
percent over last year at this time, to about $335. An average Colorado
families pays an estimated $968 in energy bills during the winter.
Energy Outreach is providing $4 million in grants in 2006-07 to about
100 emergency assistance agencies across the state. These agencies’
caseworkers qualify families for energy assistance payments that go
directly to their utility companies. Many households are carrying energy
bill balances of several hundreds dollars or more and are running out of
options to avoid being disconnected.
Energy Outreach also is contributing $2.15 million to the Colorado
Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP), which administers a federal
block grant through the state’s Department of Human Services. LEAP has
cut back its average assistance payment from $550 last year to about
$212 so far this season so it can provide some kind of benefit to every
qualified applicant.
“Although energy prices are stable this winter, the past three years of
rising costs have caught up with people that haven’t had the resources
to pay their full bill balances,” said Skip Arnold, executive director
of Energy Outreach Colorado. “Even though the energy utilities in
Colorado are highly-committed to supporting the needs of income-limited
households, at some point the bill needs to be paid. Many families have
reached that point.”
Unfortunately, less energy assistance funding is available in Colorado
this year than last year, when emergency allocations from the federal
and state governments helped hundreds of additional families make it
through the winter. The state is providing an extra $1 million
allocation in mineral and energy severance taxes to Energy Outreach
Colorado this year, compared to $3 million last year. The federal
government kicked in an additional $13 million in Colorado last year,
but there are no plans for additional funding this year.
A study by the American Gas Association indicates that just 15 percent
of the 38 million eligible households in the United States received LEAP
assistance in 2005-06 despite a record funding level of $3.2 billion.
Programs such as Energy Outreach Colorado also provide significant help
for needy families to manage their energy bills, but the need is growing
and is far beyond what civic and utility programs are able to fulfill.
“With less assistance money available, fewer families, seniors and
individuals with special needs are going to get the help they need this
winter,” Arnold said. “Some may be forced into alternatives such as
doing without food or medical care, or even giving up their homes.”
Those interested in making a tax-deductible donation to Energy Outreach
Colorado can go to its website at
www.EnergyOutreach.org, or
call toll-free at 1-866-HEAT-HELP.
About Energy Outreach Colorado
Energy Outreach Colorado is the only non-profit organization in the
state that raises money for energy assistance. Its programs include
energy bill payment assistance for income-limited households, energy
efficiency upgrades for affordable housing and energy efficiency
education. Since it was founded through the Colorado Governor’s office
in 1989, the organization has distributed nearly $74 million to fund
these programs. Energy Outreach Colorado is an independent, non-profit
organization that relies on private donations, corporate contributions
and foundation grants. More information is available at
www.EnergyOutreach.org. |
