Certain Delta Utilities customers who are struggling to pay their natural gas bills can now get some much-needed assistance. Sarah McLaughlin Porteous with Delta Utilities says the company has just launched an initiative called DU Cares.
“This is a brand-new partnership with United Way of Southeast Louisiana, where they are administering the program for us,” Porteous said.
There are eligibility requirements, including income relative to household size, and customers facing unexpected financial hardship need to fill out an application either online or in person. Porteous says the assistance is meant to be limited in nature. (People can get up to $250 one time in a 12-month period.)
“People can get up to $250, one time in a 12-month period,” Porteous explained.
Porteous says the response so far has been very encouraging.
“We launched it just last week, and we’ve had very good response so far with more than 300 applications,” Porteous noted.
Delta Utilities has committed up to $200,000 to fund the program. Once all the money is allocated, the program will be temporarily paused until additional funding is available.