Southwest Missouri (KOAM) – More Spire customers are now eligible to get help with natural gas bills. The company is making those and other changes to help residents struggling with inflation and rising costs.
The company is expanding eligibility requirements for its DollarHelp Program. It’s also increasing the maximum total annual DollarHelp pledge amount from $700 to $1,000.
The program opens today, Nov. 21, 2022.
What’s the DollarHelp Program?
Now managed through the United Way, DollarHelp allows Spire customers to donate $1, monthly, to help other customers in need of assistance with their natural gas bills.
Spire created the DollarHelp program in 1982, as part of the company’s commitment to providing resources for customers with limited incomes in the communities it serves. Spire, in collaboration with its customers, provides funding to the program on an annual basis.
Spire is also providing an additional $100,000 to support the program this year.
The DollarHelp program aims to help customers who may not qualify for assistance through federal and state programs.
Eligibility Changes for DollarHelp Program
Starting November 21, Spire is offering energy assistance to customers whose household incomes are up to 300% of the federal poverty level.
For their customers in Missouri and Alabama, Spire will expand the eligibility for DollarHelp to include individuals and families with household incomes at or below 300% of the federal poverty level (FPL), up from 150% in AL and 200% in MO.
“Prices for nearly everything have increased – from groceries to transportation,” said Christopher Gagliano, vice president of customer experience for Spire. “This additional funding and these important changes to DollarHelp support the needs of our customers who may not qualify for assistance through federal and state programs such as the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program or LIHEAP, but who still need our support. We understand that our customers are facing challenges, and we’re here to help.”
In the fiscal year 2022, Spire says it helped connect customers with more than $27 million in federal, state and Spire energy assistance funding.
More Information, How to Apply
You can find more information, how to donate and how to apply here. Spire says you can also contact one of its customer service specialists.
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