If you live in Alaska, you may struggle with paying your large electric bills, particularly if you live in rural areas where prices may be higher. The long winter requires the use of more energy to heat your home, adding to the burden. Various Alaska electric bill assistance programs can help you stay warm even as rates creep ever higher.
One program that may be available to you if you have a household income of less than 150% of the federal poverty level is LIHEAP. LIHEAP, or Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, is a federal program that provides help on utility bills especially for those with members considered vulnerable: the young, the elderly, and people with disabilities. These funds are distributed through the local social services agencies that assist lower income households.
Another program put in place to cover Alaskans who do not fall within the scope of the LIHEAP program is the Alaska Heating Assistance Program. This program is for those who make up to 225% of the federal poverty level. To apply for this program, fill out an application that you can pick up at your local Department of Public Assistance office.
Because power costs are so much more in rural areas, the Alaska Energy Authority has started the Power Cost Equalization Program. This program will pay some of the energy costs of rural families to make their bills more in line with power bills of those who live in urban areas.
The General Relief Assistance program may also be of benefit to you if you struggle with your utilities bill. This program can also meet other needs if you have them. The application for General Relief Assistance can be found online.
These resources are available to struggling Alaskans and can hopefully benefit you. Keep your lights on by taking advantage of any electric bill assistance programs for which you qualify.
Long is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a B.A. in Industrial Relations. He subsequently received his Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Duke University. His Certificate in Financial Planning was issued by Florida State University.
Long has achieved the Accredited Credit Counselor and Accredited Financial Counselor certifications through the Association for Financial Counseling, Planning and Education. Long originally achieved the Certified Credit Counselor designation through the National Institute for Financial Education.
In addition to years of nonprofit leadership, Long has been an innovator in the field of volunteer tax return preparation programs. He assists volunteer associations and nonprofit organizations who seek to integrate credit counseling and asset-building programs with free personal income tax preparation. His approach to using free credit reports as both an incentive and a screening tool for placement into asset-building programs has been shared with members of the National Community Tax Coalition, the EITC-Carolinas Initiative of MDC, Inc. and nonprofit groups across the Carolinas.
Long assists members of our armed forces in the Carolinas, Iowa, Rhode Island, Georgia and Germany with financial readiness. Please support our Soldiers, Marines, Airmen and Sailors!
Favorite quote:
"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not."
Thomas Jefferson
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