The state’s largest electricity provider is encouraging customers with unpaid bills to apply for financial assistance through an $8 million Covid-19 arrearage assistance fund.
Green Mountain Power said that 23,000 of its customers have outstanding balances older than 60 days, which may make them eligible for the financial support, while only 2,000 people have applied for arrearage assistance, the company added.
“We want customers to know we are here for them, that this money through the state program can help them get caught up, and the time to apply is now,” Mary Morris, GMP’s manager of customer care, is quoted as saying in the press release.
“Tough economic times mean it is easier than ever to get behind on your bills, and it can be harder than ever to get caught up,” she added.
The arrearage assistance program is one of a number of federally funded pandemic relief programs stood up in recent months. It is available to “residential and non-residential accounts” of “customers of regulated utilities who may face disconnection of service because of past-due balances.”
The deadline to apply is November 30. More information is available on the Department of Public Service website.
