Energy And Utility Payment Assistance
This assistance is provided at no charge to qualifyinghouseholds and is especially timely given high cost of energy and current economic conditionsthroughout Santa Barbara County. The goal of Community Action Commission (CAC) is to help eligible low-income families and our mostvulnerable citizens throughout Santa Barbara County. Nineteen percent of the County’s population are in need of assistance and has seen steady growth with poor economic conditions. The most needy low-income earners are seniors over sixty years old, families with children under five years old and thedisabled. Qualifying for the energy assistance and weatherization programs are based on household income. For instance, a family of four with two children with an annual household income that does notexceed $47,200 or a single adult earning less than $24,544 annually.
“Every now and then hard working people may experience financial hardship and sometimes you justneed that little extra help in paying bills and preserving and maintaining a warm and safe home. You should never hesitate to see what assistance programs are available. It is what our tax dollars are payingfor.” stated Mike Culbertson, CAC Energy Services Director.
The CAC Energy Services Program provides energy assistance payments to eligible households to helppay the costs of gas or electric utility bills and free weatherization and appliance safety testingservices. CAC Energy Services weatherization includes things like providing water saving devices,caulking and weather-stripping, water heater blankets and compact fluorescent lights. Safety measuresinclude providing carbon monoxide (CO) testing to make sure all gas appliances are working properly.
Defective gas appliances will be repaired or replaced depending on funding available and installing acarbon monoxide detector and smoke alarms when required. By the end of the year, all homes and apartments must be installed with properly functioning CO monitors, as mandated by California Senate Bill 183.“To gain assistance in making your home warm and safe is simple. The process usually takes four to sixweeks depending on the current number of applications.
All eligible Santa Barbara County householdsare encouraged to apply for assistance and free weatherization services.” said CAC Energy ServicesDirector, Mike Culbertson.For more information on energy assistance and free weatherization programs in Santa Barbara Countyplease call the CAC Energy Services Department at 800.655.0617 or 805.964.8857 for an appointment. CAC conducts interviews and takes applications in both English and Spanish