By By ERIKA PICKLES / Niles Daily Star
NILES - Rising energy prices may make it difficult for some customers to keep up-to-date with their gas bill payments, especially during the winter months. SEMCO Energy Gas Co. wants Niles residents to know help is available and only a phone call away.
Roberta Floyd, of Semco Energy Gas, said SEMCO is more than willing to help its customers with their bills.
The Winter Protection Plan helps low income, elderly and any customer receiving Social Security Income Aid, Aid to Dependent Children Food Stamps or Medicare.
The plan provides reduced gas costs from December through March. During these months, the customer will pay seven percent of the actual heating bill plus 1/12 of any amount owed at the time of enrollment.
The Home Heating Credit helps low income customers. Additional benefits may be available if customers are 65 years or older, deaf, blind or who have a disability.
With this credit, energy drafts or vouchers are issued to the customer by the State of Michigan for help in paying utility bills or restoring gas service.
The draft must be submitted to your heat provider for redemption.
Energy Drafts are issued in the beginning of January each year. Copies of application forms can be obtained from SEMCO Enerdy Gas Company.
The Crisis Intervention Program is available to low income households, people on public assistance and people whose income qualifies them for public assistance and who need help paying heating bills or restoring gas service.
This program provides immediate response to alleviate a potentially life threatening situation, payment for weather-related or energy-related emergencies and help in paying heating bills or restoring gas services.
The Low Income Weatherization program helps low income homeowners and renters. With this plan, energy saving measures are installed on houses to possibly lower energy costs. Services include caulking, insulation and weather stripping.
This program is available all-year with the program year beginning April 1 and ending March 31.
The Earned Income Credit plan housholds with an income less than $26,928 with one child and at least one full-time worker.
This plan provides a refundable Federal tax credit, reduces the amount of tax you owe and allows a credit that could be as much as $2,312.
This plan is available when you file your income tax return.
The Third Party Notification helps elderly, shut-ins and those away from home for an extended period of time.
This plan provides a duplicate copy of a shutoff notice that can be sent to a consenting third party (friend, relative or agency). It also Keeps a third party aware of the situation and possibly avoids a shutoff. Note: The third party is not responsible for paying the bill.
This plan is available year-round.
Floyd also stated that SEMCO offers a new program for people who are active in the military.
This program is for either spouse who is in active duty full-time. Assistance is available to the spouse here at home until the activce serviceman returns home.
Floyd stated that though the plans mention low income, elderly and medical customer's, help is available to everyone.
Customers can avoid having their gas shut off simply by making one simple phone call. If you receive a shut-off notice or know you are behind on a bill, simply call SEMCO and, as mentioned above, they will work with you to make sure your gas stays on.
SEMCO knows that these increases have an impact on everyone, that is why the company is doing everything they can to help their customers out and make things as stress free as possible.
If you have any questions about any of these plans, Floyd encourages people to call SEMCO at 800-624-2019 or visit their website at www.semcoenergygas.com.