More Than 1,200 Customers Receive $200 Job Loss Credit

Since launching a $1 million assistance fund in March to help Eugene Water & Electric Board customers left jobless due to the economic downturn, the utility has provided a total of $244,200 to 1,221 unemployed residential customers.

The job-loss benefit is part of EWEB’s overall $4.4 million “Community Care” initiative that was rolled out earlier this year to provide assistance to those who are financially struggling, as well as provide a one-time rebate to all residential customers. Combined with existing low-income programs, EWEB is funneling more than $7 million back into the community this year.

Unlike other assistance programs, the jobless benefit doesn’t include an income threshold. Customers who are currently receiving unemployment insurance payments can apply to receive the $200 credit on their electric bill.

“There are no income guidelines, and I think there are people out there who believe they have to be limited income to qualify,” said Wendi Schultz-Kerns, EWEB’s Cash Accounting supervisor. “The only qualifying factor is that a customer must have proof of receiving state unemployment benefits within the last 14 days of the application date.”

The $1 million set aside for the job loss assistance credit by EWEB’s Board of Commissioners will help up to 5,000 customers. The $200 per customer job loss benefit, available until funding is depleted or through the end of 2009, will aid those who have not already received low-income assistance since Oct. 1, 2008.

In addition to the job loss benefit credit, EWEB put up nearly $1 million in extra assistance for the utility’s low-income, senior citizen and disabled-resident assistance programs. Those programs already provide more than $2 million annually for bill-payment, weatherization and other aid to limited-income customers who might be struggling to pay their bills.

In March and April, the utility’s residential customers received a one-time rebate of $30, which showed up as a credit on their bills. Through May 22, 1,746 of those customers receiving rebates donated the credits, totaling $52,380, back to EWEB to support the Customer Care programs.

Return to June 2009 Western Energy News

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