Grant PUD considers assistance because of coronavirus

EPHRATA — Grant County PUD officials and commissioners are considering proposals to provide temporary assistance to residential customers who have been affected by the COVID-19 outbreak in paying their electricity bills.

Terry McKenzie, senior manager of customer solutions, emphasized that the proposals are still under discussion and haven’t been implemented. When they might be implemented is still to be determined.

Two of the options involve the district’s Share the Warmth program. McKenzie said Tuesday that the program allows qualifying customers up to $300 per year to help pay their bills. The PUD uses federal guidelines to determine eligibility.

In the case of these proposals, if either of them were adopted, customers would have to show their income was affected by the coronavirus outbreak. McKenzie cited the example of a customer who suffered a temporary job loss.

The first option would allow customers who already qualify for Share the Warmth but have used their yearly allowance to receive up to $150 more aid for the rest of 2020.

The second option would make a temporary change in qualification rules. Under the current program, applicants must submit three months of income information. The change would allow applicants to submit one month of information instead, if they could show their income for that month was affected by the coronavirus outbreak. Qualifying applicants would receive up to $300.

The third proposal involves the district’s discount program. Currently it’s available to qualifying low-income disabled and senior citizen customers. It provides a discount of up to 20 percent on a customer’s bill.

McKenzie said if the proposal is approved, the discount could be offered temporarily to customers affected by the coronavirus, such as somebody who was laid off.

“If a customer is struggling, call us,” she said. The PUD has existing options for customers, and can direct people to charitable organizations that may be able to help them, she explained.

Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at [email protected].