Customers line up for energy assistance

Customers line up for energy assistance

Apr 14 - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Wednesday, April 14, 2004- By GEORGIA PABST, Journal Sentinel

As shut-off date looms, an estimated 60,000 risk being disconnected.

With the energy shut-off date looming, lines began forming at 6 a.m. Tuesday at the Social Development Commission with applicants hoping to get energy assistance, said Deborah Blanks, executive director of the SDC.

At Community Advocates, 4906 W. Fond du Lac Ave., the non-profit agency had to close its doors Monday for the first time in 28 years because so many people flooded the waiting room trying to get assistance in dealing with delinquent bills, said Joe Volk, associate director of the low-income advocacy group.

On Thursday, the statewide moratorium on energy shut-offs ends. On Friday, We Energies crews will begin shutting off services, said Megan McCarthy, a spokeswoman for We Energies.

An estimated 60,000 customers risk being disconnected, Blanks said. About 200 to 300 customers a day will be disconnected beginning Friday.

While low-income energy assistance money is still available, Blanks said this year federal energy assistance funds were cut, so there is less money to give out.

Last year, 42,480 applied for the $23 million in energy assistance money available. As of March 31 this year, 28,355 have applied for assistance, she said.

While applications for energy assistance are down in Milwaukee County, statewide applications for energy assistance are up 7% from last year, said Susan Brown of the state energy assistance bureau.

The time to apply for energy assistance runs from Oct. 1 to May 14.

"In the last week, we have definitely seen an increase in the number of people coming in compared to a month ago," said Blanks. "People are very, very concerned that they might be disconnected, and they can still come in."

Volk said energy assistance often is not enough, so Community Advocates tries to work out payment plans between the utilities and customers.

This year that challenge is harder because of rising energy costs, a bitterly cold winter and the poor job outlook, said Helen Gee, manager of energy services for Community Advocates.

"Affordability is needed," she said. "When you have individuals receiving $600 to $700 a month and they're asking for an energy payment of $200 a month, it's an impossible burden," she said.

McCarthy said We Energies toughened its payment policy.

"We will ask for a pretty significant amount of what they owe before we can even move forward with a payment arrangement," she said.

"It's unfortunate, but every year the number of people who don't pay anything during the moratorium continues to grow, and we're trying to stop that. We need to collect, and if they can't pay it's unfortunate but they will be disconnected."

The Public Service Commission advised consumers to contact their local utility if they have not made payments on their heating bills this season.

If a customer and utility cannot agree on a payment plan, customers may contact the PSC's Consumer Affairs Unit at (800) 225- 7729 or (608) 266-2001.