Senator O'Leary encourages struggling residents to contact Energy Bucks

Spring deadline to access energy assistance is April 30

Energy efficiency and cost-saving services still available for qualified individuals

Burdened by the downturn in the economy and a particularly harsh winter, many more Cape & Island residents have been struggling to pay their bills. To help constituents, Senator Robert O’Leary (D-Barnstable) is encouraging them to contact Energy Bucks to see what energy efficiency and cost-saving services they qualify for.

Funding is still available. This year, the Massachusetts’ federal heating assistance allocation nearly doubled from $114 million to $212 million and funding for low-income weatherization increased to $13 million. The deadline to apply for fuel assistance is April 30.

“It is important that people are aware of the programs that are available to them to help them balance the costs of keeping warm throughout the remainder of the winter and into the spring and summer,” said Senator O’Leary. “We are all too familiar with how erratic new England weather can be and even those who already receive fuel assistance may qualify for a discount utility rate or energy efficiency services that help them save money in any season.”
Energy Bucks is an integrated campaign that creates “one-stop-shopping” for energy assistance services, enabling Massachusetts residents to better understand and apply for programs that can help them manage their energy costs.

“We are all too familiar with how erratic new England weather can be and even those who already receive fuel assistance may qualify for a discount utility rate or energy efficiency services that help them save money in any season.” - Sen. Robert O'Leary

Energy efficiency services are available to families at little or no cost depending on their income. Typically, a family of four can qualify for some form of assistance or energy efficiency services if their income is less than $4,124 a month.

These services can help save qualified families up to 30 percent on their energy bills by insulating and weatherizing their homes, repairing or replacing a heating system, receiving discount rates for electric and gas, installing energy efficient appliances and obtaining fuel assistance. By spreading the word about the resources available, Energy Bucks links residents to programs that will help them stretch their dollars as the weather gets colder and budgets get tighter. 

While this year’s fuel assistance benefit has increased, providing roughly 10 weeks of heat to oil customers versus last year’s average of 7 weeks, there are also actions residents themselves can take to reduce their energy use and stretch their dollars. Simple steps like taking showers versus baths, which use 40 percent less hot water, and turning off and unplugging all TV’s and computers when not in use, can make a real difference in energy bills. The Energy Bucks website – www.energybucks.com - has more cost-saving tips.

Energy Bucks is an integrated campaign combining grassroots outreach, community-based activities and advertising to build awareness of the fuel assistance, discount rates and energy efficiency services available to income-eligible families. Energy Bucks is sponsored by Massachusetts utilities including National Grid, NSTAR Electric & Gas, Unitil, Western Massachusetts Electric Company, Berkshire Gas, Bay State Gas, and the Cape Light Compact in collaboration with the Massachusetts Association for Community Action (MASSCAP) and the Low-Income Energy Affordability Network (LEAN). To find out if you qualify for assistance, visit www.energybucks.com or call 1-866-LESS-COST.

Release courtesy of Senator O'Leary's office.