New utility assistance available to West Virginians

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia residents who are behind on their utility bills in the coronavirus pandemic may soon qualify for additional assistance.

Applications from utility companies — electric, natural gas, water and sewer — will be going out via letters to those who are potentially eligible in the coming days.

Those applications must be returned by Thursday, Nov. 12.

“There are thousands of West Virginians who are finding themselves forced to choose between paying their utility bills, buying food, medicine, or paying for other essentials,” said Charlotte Lane, chair of the state Public Service Commission.

Charlotte Lane

Funding for the assistance comes from an allocation of $25 million in federal CARES Act funding.

In general, the funding help will be an option for people with overdue bills dated from March 1, 2020 and July 31, 2020.

Lane estimated 133,000 electric, natural gas, water and sewer customers may qualify.

Letters will be sent from the utility companies.

“You can contact your utilities if you don’t see an application in the mail and please do that as soon as possible,” said Jackie Roberts, PSC consumer advocate.

For those needing it, additional assistance with bill payment schedules was available through the PSC and individual utility companies.





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