EVERETT — It’s the season of giving and the Snohomish County Public Utility District has a program that allows customers to help other people who can’t pay their electricity bills.
When PUD customers support Project Pride, 100 percent of their tax-deductible donations go to help low-income families, said PUD spokesman Neil Neroutsos.
Customers can use the sign-up slip that is mailed with their bills or go to the utility district’s website, www.snopud.com/projectpride, to set up an automatic monthly contribution or make a one-time gift to the assistance program.
Snohomish County Public Utility District expects its assistance programs this winter to help more than 17,000 low-income customers struggling to pay their electric bills, Neroutsos said.
The programs currently provide reductions of 20 percent to 60 percent off PUD electric and water bills. The discount percentage that a customer receives depends on their income level.
The low-income discount is available to customers who have a household annual income below $29,438 for a family of four. In addition, people 62 or older often are eligible for breaks on their bills. For an application form or more information, go to www.snopud.com/discounts.
In addition, the Helping Hands program at the PUD is funded by employees who want to help low-income seniors with their electric bills. The program is funded through employee payroll deductions, a holiday bazaar fundraiser and book fairs.
For more information about the PUD’s assistance programs, call customer service at 425-783-1000 from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
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