There are a number of programs in Massachusetts that help qualifying residents manage their energy costs. The programs include fuel assistance, utility discount rates and energy efficiency services. A group of the state’s utility companies have joined forces with The Massachusetts Association for Community Action (MASSCAP) and Low-Income Energy Affordability Network (LEAN) to promote the programs to qualifying households. The initiative is known as Energy Bucks. Energy Bucks is a public-private partnership funded through the US Department of Energy and major Massachusetts utilities. It is coordinated in Boston by Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD), which also manages several other programs for the poor.
More than 800,000 Massachusetts households are eligible for assistance through Energy Bucks, yet less than 30% of them take advantage of it. Applicants must earn below 200% of the federal poverty level to be eligible for assistance. For a family of four, that means $38,700 or less.
What makes Energy Bucks unique is that added to the usual fuel assistance program is the added benefit of free energy efficiency and weatherization services and discount electric and gas rates, as well as the level of cooperation among the participating state agencies, CAPs and utility companies.
More information about energy assistance programs can be found at www.energybucks.com, or www.bostonabcd.org, or by calling ABCD at 617-357-6000.
-Adapted from: “Battening down, for free: For many, fuel-bill help is out there”, By Erin Doolittle, The Boston Globe, November 6, 2005 and from www.energybucks.com.
11/2005