Low-income Houstonians get relief from rising electricity costs
07/23/2007
Press Release from Senator Rodney Ellis__________
Post Office Box 12068 Austin, Texas 78711-2068 Press Office: 512/463-0113; Fax:512/463-0006
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Margaret Justus
281-250-8254
(HOUSTON, TX) Texas State Senator Rodney Ellis joined Gulf Coast Community Services Association and Direct Energy today to announce two programs helping low-income Houstonians with rising electricity costs during the hottest months of the year.
"Electricity costs are rising right along with our summer temperatures, and Houstonians are feeling the pain in their pocketbooks. Hardworking Texans and our elderly are struggling-- forced to make tough choices between keeping the lights on and putting food on the table," said Senator Ellis.
"We are here today to spread to the word about two important programs to address the problem. One is a state program called "LITE-UP Texas." The other is private and it is Direct Energy's new Neighbor-to-Neighbor program. Both offer welcome relief to low-income Houstonians this time of year with rising electricity bills to pay."
Speaking from the Sunnyside Multi-Purpose Center in central Houston Senator Ellis explained the Texas LITE-UP program was a thing of the past because the Texas legislature cut the program in 2005.
"Fortunately, this past legislative session we were able to partially restore the program providing $200 million in funding for Texas LITE-UP. This will reduce utility costs for low income Texans by up to 20% during summer months."
Outlining the Neighbor-to-Neighbor assistance program was Direct Energy's Senior Vice president for Texas, Laura Raymond.
Ms. Raymond explained that Direct Energy has committed $150,000 to fund the Neighbor-to-Neighbor program in the Oncor and CenterPoint service territories. Direct Energy's affiliate companies CPL Retail Energy in South Texas and WTU Retail Energy in West Texas have provided assistance to more than 10,000 customers through the Neighbor-to-Neighbor Program since 2003.
�The Neighbor-to-Neighbor Program has been very successful as part of our strategy to assist those with the greatest need to keep the lights on, and we�re proud to now have the ability to expand the program to make that assistance available to our Direct Energy customers,� said Raymond. �I applaud Senator Ellis and his colleagues at the Legislature for their efforts to restore funding for Texas LITE-UP, and I encourage Direct Energy customers who can afford to do so to check the box on their bill to pay an additional dollar each month to help their neighbors keep the power on. Together, we can help make a difference for our neighbors."
Direct Energy is working with Gulf Coast Community Services Association (GCCSA) to provide eligible low-income Direct Energy customers with assistance in paying their electric bills through the Neighbor-to-Neighbor Program.
Raymond said Direct Energy customers who currently receive Medicaid, Food Stamps, Medicaid-SSI, Medicaid-TANF, Medicaid-QMB and those whose combined family income is below 125 percent of the federal poverty level are eligible to receive Neighbor-to-Neighbor assistance. Gulf Coast Community Services Association has been selected as the agency to administer the Neighbor-to-Neighbor funds to qualified customers. For more information on the Neighbor-to-Neighbor Program, please call GCCSA at 713-393-4700.
"Whenever we see clients walk through our doors and leave in better shape than when they arrived we feel we've made a difference. And today is definitely a great day because we can see what happens when public and private entities come together for the betterment of our communities." said Dr. Jonita Wallace, CEO of Gulf Coast Community Services Association. As she visited with seniors at the Sunnyside Site where GCCSA has a Head Start Center and a Community Outreach Site, Wallace stated, "many of the seniors here today are the very clients we serve on a daily bases. Many are experiencing rising utility cost, and we hope today's announcement is music to their ears. This initiative will help these families immensely. Yes, we are definitely excited about this partnership and wish to thank Senator Ellis and Direct Energy for helping those in need, especially for easing the utility burdens of our seniors."
Ellis explained the LITE-UP Texas program came from the partial reinstatement of the System Benefit Fund. Eligible low-income customers will receive a discount on their electric bills during the months of July, August, September and October this year, and during several months in 2008 and 2009.
All retail electric providers are required to provide the discount to customers who currently receive Medicaid, Food Stamps, Medicaid-SSI, Medicaid TANF, Medicaid-QMB and those customers whose combined family income is below 125 percent of the federal poverty level. Questions regarding the program should be directed to the Low Income Discount Administrator (LIDA) a 1-800-241-7011 or log onto http://www.puc.state.tx.us/ocp/assist/liteup/index.cfm
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