KIRKSVILLE -- Ameren Missouri is now offering a new pilot energy-assistance program to very low-income electric customers to help make utility payments more affordable for those customers.
“Keeping Current” targets customers who fall at 100 percent or below the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) and those up to 135 percent of the FPL with special circumstances.
Keeping Current” consists of two main components – a heating program and a cooling program.
As part of the heating program, customers who qualify will receive monthly bill credits and see a reduction in the amount they owe on past due Ameren Missouri electric bills (arrearage reduction), if they remain enrolled in the program.
Customers must keep current on their bills to continue receiving the benefits of the heating program. Cooling program participants will receive bill credits during the summer months of June, July and August to help offset the costs of higher electric bills due to the heat.
Customer service representative Annette Sweet told KTVO the new program will differ from some past efforts to help low-income families.
“It puts them on a pretty structured setup, where a lot of times low-income customers get some assistance toward their utility bills, but it comes once or twice a year in a lump sum, but it's not really spread out throughout the year and this will be spread out,” said Sweet.
“At Ameren Missouri, we reach out to our customers in a variety of ways to help them pay their utility bills. This is just one more program to help those in need of assistance,” said Warner Baxter, Ameren Missouri president and CEO. “Our goal with this program is to help those customers who are falling behind find a way to keep up with their electric bills.”Selected energy-assistance organizations that distribute Dollar More funds will also help determine which customers qualify to enroll in “Keeping Current.”
Customers interested in this assistance should contact a Dollar More agency for information.
Ameren Missouri will contribute $1 million from company profits to help fund “Keeping Current” for two years. Electric customers will contribute to the program through a surcharge, which will cost residential customers about 3 cents per month. This pilot program was created as part of a collaboration with AARP/Consumer Council of Missouri, Inc.; Missouri Public Service Commission staff; the Missouri Industrial Energy Consumers; and the Missouri Retailers Association.
To apply for “Keeping Current,” please contact the Northeast Missouri Community Action Agency at 660 665-5791. You can also click here.
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