So many people in Snohomish County have sought help with their heating bills this winter that appointments at the Snohomish County’s Energy Assistance Office are booked through the second week in March. That’s just two weeks from the traditional end of the program.
The Energy Assistance Office has received as many as 700 phone calls a week recently, said Bill Beuscher, who oversees the program.
"The people we’re seeing this year are coming with very large bills," Beuscher said. "People are having a larger past-due balance than we’ve seen before."
The number of people facing shutoff or whose power already has been turned off because of a lack of payment has increased this year, too. In previous years, "it used to be one to two a day," Beuscher said. "Now we’re averaging five to seven households a day."
The slow regional economy, income earners decreasing from two to one in many households, and the increasing cost of natural gas and electricity are some of the reasons for the increased demand, Beuscher said.
Since opening in November, 1,824 households have received help through the assistance office, and $513,291 has been awarded. The average amount is $281, although some grants have been as large as $750.
Beuscher suggests that those who need help with their heating bills call the energy assistance office for an appointment within the next two weeks. To qualify, the earned monthly income for a family of four can’t exceed $2,396.
Carol Fritsch of Everett is one of those who is waiting for her appointment, scheduled for March 8. About a year ago, she was laid off from Johansen Mechanical Inc. in Woodinville, a heating, air-conditioning and metal fabrication company.
"It was a very good job, making good money and great benefits," Fritsch said. "To keep going, they had to downsize. I was one of the last ones to go out of there."
Since then, Fritsch, 52, has been able to pick up only temporary work at Christmas.
"I’m trying to knock on the door with anybody," she said. "I’ve been out (looking for work) for over a year trying to find something. It’s tough."
Although she has turned down the heat, her natural gas bills are running $50 to $60 a month.
"This is the first time in my life I’ve had to get any type of assistance," she said. "If this can help for just a short time until I can get back on my feet, it will be nice."
By the end of the heating season, an estimated 6,490 households will have been assisted, Beuscher said. Last winter, 4,082 households received help with heating bills.
Reporter Sharon Salyer: 425-339-3486 or salyer@heraldnet.com.
Snohomish County’s Energy Assistance Program offers help in paying heating bills to people meeting low-income guidelines.
What’s available: Grants of $25 to $750, one time only per heating season
What qualifies: All forms of heat, including electric, natural gas, oil and wood
Office: 2722 Colby Ave., Suite 104, Everett
Hours: 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday
Phone: 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. Appointments are required. Call 425-259-5185.
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