HAVRE, Mont. (NMB) – With the cold weather beginning and the pandemic continuing, local officials want to remind Montanans struggling to pay energy bills that there is help available.
Montana Energy Share Board Member Greg Jergeson says they offer loans to people experiencing an energy emergency, and are expecting an increase in applicants due to the pandemic.
“We’re expecting a number of families either because they are unemployed temporarily, one reason or another, or if somebody in the family does get COVID and the expenses that every family experiences in that situation beyond the coverage that they may have from insurance. So we’re expecting greater need this year, and that’s what Energy Share is set up to help with.”
Last year, Energy Share assisted 47 families in District IV (Hill, Blaine, Liberty Counties), with an average of $570 of bill assistance per household. So far this year, the average assistance per household is $744, with around 50 percent of applicants citing circumstances related to COVID.
“We established our budget expecting that this may be a tougher winter. Because as we had our annual meeting last May, we could anticipate in particular, that the COVID thing probably would not be wrapped up by fall. And as it turned out, it looks like it could get worse for the winter. So hopefully, we’ll have enough. We may have to, if we need to, put out another feel later in the year for assistance. But hopefully, our budget is adequate for what we may get hit with.”
Energy Share of Montana is a complimentary program to the federally-funded Low Income Energy Assistance Program, or LIEAP.
Unlike LIEAP, Energy Share is privately funded and is for unexpected, emergency-type situations, while LIEAP is available every year for those that qualify.
Funding for Energy Share comes from individuals and small businesses, large electric users, utility companies, electric cooperatives and the propane industry.
Energy Share asks people to apply for LIEAP before looking at Energy Share for funding.
The application process for Energy Share is relatively short. If approved, payment is provided directly to the energy provider.
For more information, call District IV HRDC at 265-6743 or visit www.hrdc4.org if you live in Hill, Liberty or Blaine County. Everyone can also visit www.energysharemt.com or call 800-640-6743 to find the office that serves your county and donate or apply for assistance.
