Millions in energy aid lined up

By SHARON SALYER and KATHY DAY

Herald Writers

Don’t let soaring energy bills send you into a panic. There’s help for those in need.

Nearly $2.5 million is available to assist low-income and senior residents of Snohomish County and Camano Island with their natural gas and electricity bills.

Following recently announced rate increases, the "call went out" for state and federal help, said Bill Beuscher, a supervisor in Snohomish County’s Energy Assistance Program.

"We’re sitting on the edge of our chair hoping we’ll get more," he added.

About half the $2.5 million comes through a county program expected to help some 4,000 households pay their heating bills, Beuscher said.

Most of the rest is included in a Snohomish County PUD program that is expected to provide rate-reduction assistance to about 7,000 seniors and low-income customers this year. Rate discounts of 15 percent, 30 percent and 45 percent are based on income.

On top of that, the American Red Cross’ Project PRIDE has a little more than $100,000 that comes primarily from donations by PUD customers.

Similar programs are available for natural gas customers of Puget Sound Energy in Island County. The utility’s electric customers on Whidbey Island can also tap into the Warm Neighbor Fund, administered by the Salvation Army, which is similar to Project PRIDE.

Individuals or families applying for county or PUD programs must meet federal low-income guidelines to qualify.

For example, in the Snohomish County program, monthly household income for a family of four generally cannot exceed $2,220. Seniors seeking assistance from the PUD must be at least 62 years old and have a combined disposable income of less than $18,000 a year.

The county’s Energy Assistance Program, which kicked off Nov. 15, is now considering several hundred requests for help.

Of the $1 million available, $134,000 has been allocated to 500 households so far, and several hundred applications for assistance are being reviewed.

The amount any individual or family may receive varies from $25 to $750, depending on need, Beuscher said.

"We already have broken last year’s record week," he added. "We’re dealing with people with overdue bills or a potential disconnection situation."

Assistance grants may be awarded for any type of heating cost: electric, gas or even wood pellets. Emergency furnace repairs can be funded as well.

Energy assistance grant recipients also may be eligible for the agency’s weatherization programs to help reduce future power bills. Participants have reported savings of as much as 30 percent after fixing heat-loss problems.

The 33 percent increase in residential electricity rates announced Wednesday and 25 percent increase in natural gas hikes requested on Monday will hit people especially hard who already are having trouble paying for food, housing and others basics, Beuscher said.

"Some of our toughest situations are families with very young children," he said. "They just don’t have the resources to stretch."

This was the case with one young couple in his office a week ago whose power had been turned off.

"They had been disconnected with four young children at home," he said. "We were able to get them reconnected, or they would have had a very serious situation."

For those above the income guidelines but still having trouble paying their power bills, few options are available.

"The law is very clear," Beuscher said of who can and cannot be helped through the program.

Although direct aid may not be available, the PUD does evaluate homes and offers energy-saving tips. The district also can switch a customer’s billing to a budget payment plan in which a customer’s bill is averaged throughout the year to balance out the lower summer costs with the higher winter bills.

The district also has a low-interest energy loan program that helps pay for energy-efficient improvements for customers with electrically heated homes. Loans can be issued for such projects as insulation and weatherstripping and installing insulated windows or heat pumps, a PUD spokesman said.

Customers have up to 10 years to pay back the loans, which are available for apartments and single-family and mobile homes.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Everett Historic Theater owner Curtis Shriner inside the theater on Tuesday, May 13, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Historic Everett Theatre sale on horizon, future uncertain

With expected new ownership, events for July and August will be canceled. The schedule for the fall and beyond is unclear.

Contributed photo from Snohomish County Public Works
Snohomish County Public Works contractor crews have begun their summer 2016 paving work on 13 miles of roadway, primarily in the Monroe and Stanwood areas. This photo is an example of paving work from a previous summer. A new layer of asphalt is put down over the old.
Snohomish County plans to resurface about 76 miles of roads this summer

EVERETT – As part of its annual road maintenance and preservation program,… Continue reading

City of Everett Engineer Tom Hood, left, and City of Everett Engineer and Project Manager Dan Enrico, right, talks about the current Edgewater Bridge demolition on Friday, May 9, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
How do you get rid of a bridge? Everett engineers can explain.

Workers began dismantling the old Edgewater Bridge on May 2. The process could take one to two months, city engineers said.

Smoke from the Bolt Creek fire silhouettes a mountain ridge and trees just outside of Index on Sept. 12, 2022. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
County will host two wildfire-preparedness meetings in May

Meetings will allow community members to learn wildfire mitigation strategies and connect with a variety of local and state agencies.

Helion's 6th fusion prototype, Trenta, on display on Tuesday, July 9, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Helion celebrates smoother path to fusion energy site approval

Helion CEO applauds legislation signed by Gov. Bob Ferguson expected to streamline site selection process.

Vehicles travel along Mukilteo Speedway on Sunday, April 21, 2024, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Mukilteo cameras go live to curb speeding on Speedway

Starting Friday, an automated traffic camera system will cover four blocks of Mukilteo Speedway. A 30-day warning period is in place.

Carli Brockman lets her daughter Carli, 2, help push her ballot into the ballot drop box on the Snohomish County Campus on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Here’s who filed for the primary election in Snohomish County

Positions with three or more candidates will go to voters Aug. 5 to determine final contenders for the Nov. 4 general election.

The Everett City Council on Wednesday, April 16, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett City Council approves apprenticeship ordinance

The new ordinance builds upon state law, requiring many city public works contracts to use at least 15% apprentice labor.

Logo for news use featuring the municipality of Stanwood in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Stanwood nears completion of deployable floodwall

The new floodwall will provide quick protection to the downtown area during flood conditions.

Cars drive along Cathcart Way next to the site of the proposed Eastview Village development that borders Little Cedars Elementary on Wednesday, May 7, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Former engineer: Snohomish County rushed plans for Eastview development

David Irwin cited red flags from the developers. After he resigned, the county approved the development that’s now stalled with an appeal

Steven M. Falk / The Philadelphia Inquirer / Tribune News Service
James Taylor plays Sunday and Monday at Chateau Ste. Michelle in Woodinville.
A&E Calendar for May 22

Send calendar submissions for print and online to features@heraldnet.com. To ensure your… Continue reading

Members of Washington State patrol salute the casket of slain trooper Chris Gadd during a memorial cremony on Tuesday, March 12, 2024, at Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Opening statements begin in trial of man charged in crash of WSP trooper

Deputy prosecutor described to jurors what began as a routine patrol for Christopher Gadd — “until it wasn’t.”

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.