Need help paying for utilities this winter? Here’s where to find help
Winter can be an especially trying time of year for Craven County’s senior citizens and low-income residents struggling to pay higher than normal utility bills. Thanks to a number of county and state programs however, local residents can receive assistance throughout the coldest months of the year with heating, water and other essentials.
Here are five programs available to residents through the Craven County Department of Social Services as well as the City of New Bern.
Crisis Intervention Program
The Crisis Intervention Program (CIP) is a federally-funded program that provides assistance to eligible households that are in a heating or cooling related emergency. The goal of the CIP program is to help families stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer, reducing the risk of health and safety problems such as illness, fire, or eviction.
Benefits may vary based upon the amount needed to alleviate the crisis. An eligible household may receive assistance more than one time during the state fiscal year (July through June).
The maximum allowed benefit amount can be up to $600 per application, per crisis situation; however, benefits cannot exceed $600 per state fiscal year. All payments are made directly to the vendor.
This program is administered based upon available funds.
For more information, visit www.cravencountync.gov/1862/Energy-Programs.
Low Income Energy Assistance Program
The Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) is a federally-funded program that provides for a one-time vendor payment to help eligible households pay their heating bills. Only households containing an elderly person aged 60 and above or a disabled person receiving services through the Division of Aging and Adult Services are eligible to potentially receive benefits from December 1 through December 31 or until funds are exhausted. Any household can potentially receive benefits from January 1 through March 31 or until funds are exhausted.
For more information, visit www.cravencountync.gov/1862/Energy-Programs
Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program
The Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) was developed using federal funds to provide emergency assistance to low-income households to prevent disconnection or provide assistance with reconnection of drinking and wastewater services. The program provides a one-time payment for eligible low-income households directly to the utility company. LIHWAP runs through September 2023 or until the funds run out.
There are three priority groups that will be served in the program:
Group 1: households that have had water services disconnected
Group 2: households that are in jeopardy of water services being disconnected, unless action is taken to prevent the disconnect
Group 3: households that have current water services bills and need assistance to maintain service
Funding will be available to priority group 3 only after priority groups 1 and 2 have been served.
For more information, visit www.ncdhhs.gov/divisions/social-services/energy-assistance/low-income-household-water-assistance-program-lihwap
New Bern Connects Round Up Program
The New Bern Utilities Department offers customers a unique way to help the less fortunate. Customers can sign up voluntarily to have their utility bill rounded up to the next dollar with the remaining funds going into the Round Up program. The contributions go to help New Bern residential utility customers in need of assistance with their utility bills.
If a utility charge is $92.75, the bill would be automatically rounded up to $93 and the extra 25 cents would be deposited in the New Bern CONNECTS Round Up fund. The average contribution per customer is approximately 50 cents per month, or $6 annually.
For more information or to sign-up visit: newbernnc.gov
Payment Time Extensions
Although the City of New Bern does not provide reduced rates for lower income households, it will allow customers to make reasonable short-term payment plans for past-due bills on an occasional basis.
If a New Bern residential customer is unable to pay a bill by the due date, the person listed on the account may visit the office to request an arrangement for payment of the bill at a later date. Photo identification is required. If an arrangement is authorized by a city representative, all past due payments must, as a general rule, be completed before the next bill due date. If the account holder is unable to visit the office, they may authorize someone else to handle the matter on the account.
The city also works with a number of public and private organizations that help customers pay their utility bills. Contact a customer service representative at (252)639-2750 for further information.
External agencies that may be able to assist are:
• Craven County Department of Social Services, 2818 Neuse Blvd, New Bern, 252 639-4900
• Religious Community Services, 919 George Street, New Bern, 252-633-2767
• Retired/Disabled Veterans: Disabled American Veterans - Chapter 26, 468 Highway 70 E, Havelock, 252-652-9166
• Catholic Charities, 502 Middle Street, New Bern, 252-638-2188
• Active Duty Military:Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society Quick Assist Loans, www.nmcrs.org/QAL
• Salvation Army, 1402 Rhem Ave, New Bern, 252-637-2277
Reporter Todd Wetherington can be reached by email at wwetherington@gannett.com. Please consider supporting local journalism by signing up for a digital subscription.
This article originally appeared on Sun Journal: Need help paying for utilities this winter? Here’s where to find help
