State short of cash to help with electric bills

The increasing number of Floridians who can’t pay their electric bills may not be able to get the help they need because the state energy assistance program will likely run short of money.

“The bottom line is that our providers around the state are seeing a tremendous demand for services, a demand that will far outstrip the availability of funds,” said Jon Peck, spokesman for the Florida Department of Community Affairs.

At the same time, Tampa Electric reported a 27 percent jump in the number of customers facing disconnection. Progress Energy has seen cutoffs increase 15 percent since last year. Paying for power could get even harder in the coming year. Both utilities plan to increase monthly bills by 10 percent or more.

“In the last month, we’ve gotten quite a few calls,” said Crystal Watson, a receptionist at the Homeless Emergency Project in Clearwater. Watson estimated that she gets at least five phone calls a day from people looking for help paying their electric bill. “It’s people not being able to keep a job. They’re getting laid off. The gas prices are getting too high.”

One program that can help is the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, called LIHEAP. The federally funded program offers one-time help with electricity bills, Peck explained. The program helps families cope with unexpectedly high bills, often following very hot or very cold weather.

Florida received $28.5-million for the program this year, but the state has been overwhelmed by the need, Peck said. The state can seek more funds from the federal government, but other states are facing the same daunting demand for help. Northern states are already bracing for a winter that promises record-high heat bills as oil and natural gas prices continue to rise.

>>FAST FACTS
Where to go for help
Utilities can often help strapped families set up a payment plan. If that’s not enough, here are locations where you can apply for energy assistance:
Tampa Electric customer service, (813) 223-0800.
Progress Energy customer service department, (800) 700-8744.
Hernando County: Salvation Army, (352) 796-1186.
Hillsborough County: Salvation Army, (813) 226-0055 x300.
Pasco County: Christian Social Services, Land O’Lakes, (813) 995-0088; Neighborhood Care Center, Zephyrhills, (813) 780-6822; Pasco County Social Services, (352) 521-4572; Salvation Army, West Pasco, (727) 847-6321; St. James Catholic Church, (727) 862-8580; St. Vincent DePaul, Our Lady Queen of Peace Church, (727) 845-4955.
Pinellas County: Salvation Army of St. Petersburg, (727) 821-9123 or 822-4954; Religious Community Services, (727) 443-4031.

For information on the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, go to http://www.floridacommunitydevelopment.org/liheap/about.cfm#Apply

-Asjylyn Loder, Times Staff Writer

Comments

[danielle and charles parker]

its a shame we applied for all kinds of help still waiting for assistance from DCF going to churches for food in our own country

[danielle and charles parker]

we are so waiting for assistance from DCF we have a child go to churches for food in our own country Danielle and Charles Parker very digusted

[Kimberly]

I realize how miserable hot it is. I was working in my yard today between 9:00 AM and 3:00 PM. Chugging water and not moving too strenuously got me through it.

My fans are on, and I use AC just enough to keep the humidity down. My house is at 90 degrees right now.

That being said, things can be worse. I lived in a third world country for eight years. The last six years were in the countryside where there was no electricity and the only running water was when you poured it from a bucket. The country was nearer to the equator than Florida. It prepared me for being able to handle Florida's heat and the power outages from thunder storms.

Shut the drapes and wear your bathing suit. When you get way too hot, take a cold or cool bath. Washing off the sticky sweat makes you feel so much better. Taking a bath just before bedtime, helps you sleep better, too.

Make sure you drink plenty of water so you're well-hydrated. When you start feeling hot, tired, or weak, have a headache, or your mouth gets sticky, those are all signs of dehydration. When you get to that point, you need to drink more than enough water to slake your thirst.

Try to drink often and enough so you don't get those dehydration signs at all. Before leaving the house, drink one to three 8-oz. glasses of water so you don't wilt in the heat.

[hellen]

I think its disgusting that were suppose to live like someone from a third world country my papa and his parents didn't come to America to live the way they did before they came here -no its called big fat republican pigs wasting all our money -there is no reason anyone in this world should suffer or starve and surely not Americans -