HAVRE, Mont. (NMB) – As winter settles in, programs become available for those who are struggling to keep their homes warm this winter. Montana Energy Share Board Member Greg Jergeson says that Energy Share of Montana is a complimentary program to the federally-funded Low Income Energy Assistance Program, or LIEAP, but offers loans to people experiencing an energy emergency.
“The primary purpose of the organization is to help people who find them selves in need of some assistance of paying their utility bills due to an emergency situation, and as a consequence, that creates a hole in their family budget and they’re not able to pay their utility bills. Then we help up to $700.”
Jergeson says that people are encouraged to repay this assistance, otherwise they are only eligible for help once every ten years.
“They’re asked to repay it once they get back on their feet. And it’s not an absolute requirement. They don’t have to set up terms of how they’re going to pay it back. An amazingly large number of these families do in fact pay the money back, and then that renews for some future emergency.”
The program assists people regardless of the type of heating they use. For more information, call District 4 HRDC at 265-6743 and ask for the Energy Program.
