| Press Release Archive
Emergency funding needed
The City of Austin is seeking voluntary
donations from citizens and businesses to assist citizens
with utility bills who are facing extreme emergencies. A colder
winter last year and record summer temperatures for the fourth
year in a row have resulted in an overwhelming number of requests
for assistance. As a result, the assistance fund, called Plus
One, ran out of money in July.
As an emergency stop gap measure, Austin
Energy provided the fund with $150,000 so that assistance
to the most desperate situations can occur. Businesses and
citizens willing to assist are asked to send their donation
by check made out to the City of Austin Customer Assistance
Program and mail to P.O. Box 684368, Austin 78768-4368. All
donations are tax deductible. This public appeal for funding
will also be included in the newsletter that accompanies September
utility bills.
During May, June and July of this year a
record 763 families were provided emergency utility bill assistance.
It is expected that over 2,000 families will be assisted by
September 30, 2001, the end of the City's fiscal year.
In dollars, assistance provided over the
May-July three-month period this summer topped $210,000 --
more than double the amount provided during those months in
any of the last five years. Local social service agencies,
that screen requests for the funding, say they have received
hundreds of additional requests that could not be met. There
are an estimated 25,000 low-income families in Austin currently
receiving benefits through federal, state or local assistance
programs.
"Top to bottom, the City of Austin
provides more utility bill and energy and water efficiency
assistance to low-income customers than does any other City
in Texas," said Mayor Pro Tem Jackie Goodman. "This
effort by the City to further help address critical needs
is another demonstration of that priority."
The City, through Austin Energy, provides
free home weatherization to low income families, assistance
in replacing inefficient window air conditioners, a waiver
of the $6 customer charge on electric bills and a waiver of
the Transportation fee, for those who qualify. It also provides
to all customers rebates and, through an outside lender, low-interest
loans for home energy improvements. The City's Water Conservation
program provides free low-flush toilets, low-flow showerheads
and rebates on water efficient washers and other water saving
measures.
The Plus One Program will be combined under
what will be called the City of Austin Customer Assistance
program. This fall, Austin Energy will mail a brochure that
summarizes all City programs that are a part of the Customer
Assistance program. The brochure will be mailed to all City
of Austin utility customers who receive benefits through the
Texas Department of Human services or Travis County Health
and Human services. The outreach effort is aimed at delivering
program information in a single, all-inclusive source that
will make it easier for qualifying customers to sign up. The
local agencies, which help identify Plus One recipients, will
also assist with the outreach effort.
For more information, contact Ed
Clark, Public Information.
Phone: (512) 322-6514
Pager: (512) 802-2000
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