AEP Neighbor to Neighbor Dollar Energy Fund
New River Community Action (NRCA) is taking applications for the Appalachian Electric Power (AEP) Neighbor-to-Neighbor Dollar Energy Fund Hardship Program. The program assists eligible customers with a one-time grant applied directly to their electric bills. The award goes beyond assistance available through federal, state, and other programs and is a fund of last resort.
“We are very fortunate to partner with AEP to offer the Neighbor-to-Neighbor Dollar Energy Fund for people who have difficulties paying their electric bills,” states Glenda Vest, NRCA Community Services Programs Director.
The Hardship Program provides grants to AEP customers whose gross household incomes are 150% or below the Federal Poverty Income Guidelines. For example, the maximum qualifying annual income for of family of two is $24,360, for a family four $36,900. Customers are assisted on a first come, first serve basis while funding is available. Utility service must be cut off, or the customer must have an active termination notice. Neighbor-to-Neighbor cannot be used to pay security deposits or reconnect fees.
An applicant must have an outstanding balance of at least $100 on their utility account and show evidence of payments totaling $100 during the 90 days before seeking Neighbor-to-Neighbor. Applicants 62 years of age or older are required to show proof of payments totaling $75 during the 90 days before seeking assistance. Payments toward utility costs provided by community-based organizations or federal program grants do not count toward this evidence of payments. Customers qualifying for federal heating or cooling assistance through a local Department of Social Services must apply to this program before applying for Neighbor-to-Neighbor and must bring proof of application.
The applicant’s utility account must be a residential, single family home or an apartment and must be in the name of an adult living in the household. The account cannot be for cooking only or an apartment with a shared utility.
Applicants should bring proof of all household income, evidence of 90 days prior utility payments, most recent utility bill or termination notice, proof of application for the federal heating or cooling program, if appropriate, and valid social security numbers for all household members over the age of 6 months.
Neighbor-to-Neighbor application locations:
NRCA Floyd County Emergency Assistance Program (FCEAP) and Food Pantry, call 540-745-2102, located at 120 Epperly Mill Road, Floyd, VA 24091. Contact Katie Bennett kbennett@nrcaa.org.
NRCA and Montgomery County Emergency Assistance Program (MCEAP) and Food Pantry, call 540-382-6186 to schedule an appointment, located at 110 Roanoke Street, Christiansburg, VA 24073. Contact: Melissa Poindexter mpoindexter@nrcaa.org.
NRCA Radford City/Fairlawn Emergency Assistance Program (RC/FEAP) and Food Pantry, call 540-267-3205, located at 928 West Main Street Radford, VA 24141 (Radford City Department of Social Services annex). Contact: Teresa Moses tmoses@nrcaa.org. (Note: must be an AEP bill; for Radford City electric bill, see Department of Social Services staff)
NRCA Giles County Emergency Assistance Program (GCEAP) and Food Pantry, call
540-921-2146, located at 1410-B Wenonah Avenue, Pearisburg, VA 24134. Contact: Donna Thompson dthompson@nrcaa.org.
NRCA and Pulaski County Emergency Needs Task Force (PCENTF) and Food Pantry, call 540-980-5525, located at 412 North Jefferson Ave, Pulaski, VA 24301. Contact: Denise Hancock dhancock@nrcaa.org.
New River Community Action Emergency Assistance Offices and Food Pantries are open Monday-Friday 9:00 to 11:30 and 1:00 to 3:30.