August 1, 2019 – The Arizona non-profit organization, Take Charge America, is providing tips for households to stay cool and reduce their summer bills this year.

“With a few simple changes to your routine, you can keep summer costs and stress to a minimum,” said Michael Sullivan, a personal finance consultant with Take Charge America. “Increased energy use during the summer can cause utility costs to skyrocket, deflating your plans to have fun or relax.”

Sullivan provided the following tips:

July 25, 2019 – The Community Action Partnership of Northeast Missouri (CAPNEMO) is offering a program to assist households with energy needs this summer. The program offers up to $300 in electric bill assistance in the summer months.

“If you come in with a shut off notice, we can pay up to that amount in the office here,” said Mary Bishop, Quality Assurance Director of CAPNEMO.

July 19, 2019 – The Ohio Development Services Agency and Miami Valley Community Action Partnership will assist eligible Ohio residents with crisis assistance this summer. The assistance, provided by the Home Energy Assistance Summer Crisis Program, includes electric bill payment assistance and air-conditioning repairs.

July 11, 2019 – The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Crisis Intervention Program is now providing assistance to applicants who qualify. Applicants that qualify are those who are experiencing a “crisis,” related to cooling their homes.

July 3, 2019 – Ohio’s Northwestern Community Action Commission and Development Services Agency is now helping income-eligible Ohioans with summer crisis assistance as of July 1. The program offers assistance in paying electric bills as well as assisting in air conditioning system repairs. Ohio assisted more than 879 households with LIHEAP summer crisis assistance last year. The crisis program ends August 31.

June 28, 2019 – The Oklahoma Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program will start accepting applications for summer cooling assistance on July 9. Applicants may apply online through the Oklahoma Department of Health and Human Services.

June 21, 2019 – Ohio’s Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) is now available to income-eligible residents that are in need to utility assistance this summer. The HEAP program offers help paying electric bills or assist in purchasing central air conditioning units. Residents who wish to apply should schedule an appointment with Hocking Athens Perry Community Action (HAPCAP) to sign up.

June 13, 2019 - The 2019 Annual NEUAC Conference was held this week in Fort Worth, Texas, from June 3 through June 6. Utility representatives and non-profit members, among others, attended workshops and exhibits that highlighted issues and solutions to helping low-income energy consumers become self-sufficient. The National Energy Assistance Director’s Association (NEADA) also hosted their annual membership meeting Monday, June 3.

May 30, 2019 - The Upper Cumberland Human Resource Agency (UCHRA) in Tennessee is reminding Upper Cumberland region residents that there is still funding available from the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to assist with high utility bills.

May 24, 2019 – Georgia’s Clayton County Community Services Authority will be assisting Henry County residents with applying for cooling assistance from May 28-31 and June 3-7. Residents can make appointments online through the Clayton County Community Services Authority website. The LIHEAP cooling assistance benefits in Georgia are available until June 30.