APCo revamps program to aid customers

By: Bryan Gentry | Lynchburg News and Advance
Published: November 13, 2009

Appalachian Power is revamping its Neighbor-to-Neighbor program to help more customers struggling to pay electricity bills.

APCo announced Thursday it is partnering with Dollar Energy Fund, a nonprofit agency, to make it easier for customers to donate to the program or receive help year-round.

The company kicked off the Neighbor-to-Neighbor program this year with its own $500,000 donation, said APCo spokesman Todd Burns. Last year, the company gave $100,000 to the program.

Burns said other energy assistance programs also are receiving boosts.

“Between those revenue streams, our sources and weatherization, we hope that will help many families that find themselves in need this year,” he said.

The need for help with heating bills has grown in Central Virginia. Last month social service officials in the region said they saw a sharp increase in requests for heating fuel assistance. Today is the last day they will take applications for the public program.

Neighbor-to-Neighbor is a separate, private program for APCo customers. Since 1983 the company and its customers have donated $5.4 million to help customers who could not pay their bills, Burns said.

Last year, APCo partnered with Dollar Energy Fund for its West Virginia assistance program. That helped significantly increase donations.

Burns said there were some years when the West Virginia program collected less than $37,000 in donations. Last year it brought in $100,000 with the nonprofit’s help, said Danielle Snidow, Neighbor-to-Neighbor coordinator with Dollar Energy Fund.

The partnership makes it easier to donate money to the program. Before, customers could donate only by writing a separate check to send to the company. Now they can donate at appalachianpower.com or dollarenergy.org.

They also can have a donation added to their electricity bills. Burns said donors can select a set amount, or they can have the bill rounded up each month.

Donations are accepted, and assistance given, year-round now, whereas before the program only was available in the winter, he said.

In the Lynchburg area, the Salvation Army and Lynchburg Community Action Group will help Dollar Energy Fund distribute Neighbor-to-Neighbor money, Snidow said.

People needing assistance should contact the local organizations. To receive help, their income cannot be greater than 150 percent of the federal poverty level. A family of four qualifies if its income is $33,075 per year or less.

People receiving help must have a notice that their electricity will be cut off if no payment is made. They also must have made efforts to pay their electric bills.

“We like to help people who are trying to help themselves,” Snidow said.