It’s a win-win situation for donors and recipients of the Gas Assistance Fund. For every dollar you donate to the fund, Southern California Gas will contribute four dollars (up to $800,000) in an effort to assist low income-eligible customers who can’t afford the increased costs of winter heating bills. In turn, the bill-assistance program grants a one-time only gift of $150 to those customers facing financial hardships. Last year the program helped more than 3000 customers.
Michelle Mueller, Vice President of Customer Services for The Southern California Gas Company, says that the program is necessary with the projected record high heating costs anticipated this winter.
“The Gas Assistance Fund helps our customers who are facing hardships stay warm this winter,” says Mueller, “But, more importantly, it helps stretch a family’s budget for other necessities.”
The program has helped thousands of needy Southern Californians pay their natural gas bills to the tune of $10 million over the past 20 years. This year funds will be distributed, through the end of April, to income-qualified customers by the United Way of Greater Los Angeles, working with 100 community agencies.
If you need help paying your bill, contact The Gas Company at 800-427-2200. They can provide you with information about additional assistance programs including a 20 percent discount on bills and no-cost measures to make homes more energy efficient. They also offer a no shut-off policy for low-income customers who make minimum payments in addition to the waiver of certain fees.
If you’d like to contribute, mail your voluntary tax-deductible contributions to: United Way, Gas Assistance Fund, File 56826, Los Angeles, Ca 90074-6826 or simply log on to www.unitedwayla.org
The act will no doubt warm your soul as well as the homes of hundreds of families struggling with high heating costs.