PSE offers payment plans, assistance and energy efficiency incentives to help customers manage energy costs
Nearly 22,000 households have received $18.5 million to help pay bills in 2009;
$7 million in assistance funds still available on top of up to $8,500 in incentives and tax credits
BELLEVUE, Wash. (June 3, 2009) — Puget Sound Energy is encouraging customers to consider budget payment plans, available assistance programs and energy-efficiency measures to help manage their energy costs during this economic downturn and eventual recovery.
“Recognizing the current economic downturn, combined with the winter heating season that extended well into spring, PSE is urging our customers during the summer months to take advantage of our programs to pay and reduce their energy bills year round,” said Bert Valdman, executive vice president and chief operating officer.
To avoid big swings in their monthly energy bills, PSE encourages electric and natural gas customers to enroll in the utility’s budget payment plan by calling 1-888-225-5773 or contacting PSE online at PSE.com. More than 10 percent of PSE’s residential customers already participate in the plan, which evens out the lows of summer bills with the highs of winter heating bills.
Customers on the plan pay a predetermined amount each month, based on their previous electric or natural gas usage history. Over the course of the year, customers pay the same amount they would without the plan, but it is spread evenly among 12 monthly payments. PSE reviews actual usage periodically adjusts the average monthly amount, if necessary. PSE also encourages income eligible households needing help paying their spring heating bills to apply for energy-assistance, which remains available at local community service agencies. Approximately $7 million in help is still available with this year’s expanded funding of the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP, and from PSE’s Home Energy Lifeline Program, or HELP. Both programs are administered by nonprofit community service agencies in each of the 11 counties PSE serves. During the 2008-2009 winter heating season, nearly 22,000 households have already received $18.5 million in bill-payment assistance.
“In light of the economic difficulties many families in our service area are facing, it’s heartening to note that this year’s increased funding has already helped 8,000 more households pay their heating bills compared to a year ago,” said Valdman. PSE plans to spend $84.3 million in 2009 to help customers reduce the amount of natural gas and electricity they use through energy efficiency and conservation initiatives. “There are many no-cost and low-cost ways for customers to save energy and money in their homes,” explained Valdman. “We encourage our customers to call or explore our Web site to take advantage of almost $8,500 in incentives and tax credits and no-cost tips to manage their energy costs.” PSE provides information about energy conservation rebates and tips through community outreach, its Web site, PSE.com and its Energy Advisors at 1-800-562-1482.
Media contact
Dorothy Bracken, 1-888-831-7250
About Puget Sound Energy:
Washington state’s oldest and largest energy utility, with a 6,000-square-mile service area stretching across 11 counties, Puget Sound Energy serves more than 1 million electric customers and nearly 750,000 natural gas customers. PSE, a subsidiary of Puget Energy, meets the energy needs of its growing customer base primarily in Western Washington through incremental, cost-effective energy conservation, procurement of sustainable energy resources, and far-sighted investment in the energy-delivery infrastructure. PSE employees are dedicated to providing great customer service to deliver energy that is safe, reliable, reasonably priced, and environmentally responsible.