Seniors get help with summer cooling bills

The three fans in James Searles' home will be unplugged in the coming days.

• Comment
• E-mail
• 

• Photos

Back | Next

Jackie Ricciardi/Staff

Patricia Johnson, the energy coordinator for the CSRA Economic Opportunity Authority, talks about the program, which provides energy assistance for low-income seniors. She was at Augusta's Carrie J. Mays Community Center.

Back | Next

Jackie Ricciardi/Staff

Patricia Johnson, the energy coordinator for the CSRA Economic Opportunity Authority, talks about the program, which provides energy assistance for low-income seniors. She was at Augusta's Carrie J. Mays Community Center.

Advertisement

The Army veteran and senior citizen used the fans to avoid turning on his air conditioner and getting a high electricity bill. Mr. Searles was one of hundreds of low-income seniors who received energy assistance through the CSRA Economic Opportunity Authority on Monday and Tuesday.

"I don't turn the air conditioner on too much because I can't afford it," he said. "It's been tough, but this will be really good."

Residents 65 and older gathered at the Carrie J. Mays Community Center and other area locations to apply for the one-time $350 payment to their electric companies, said Patricia Johnson, the energy coordinator for the authority. Fifty residents of Columbia County, 150 from Burke County and 300 in Richmond County were helped through the program. In all, 1,150 seniors in the authority's 13-county coverage area received assistance.

"We had 250 people at the center on Monday alone," Ms. Johnson said. "We did have to turn people away, but those who were helped will really benefit."

It was the first time the organization has been able to help seniors with their energy bills during the summer. Georgia's Department of Human Resources granted the 13-county area more than $4 million in heating energy assistance earlier this year, Ms. Johnson said. More than $400,000 was not used, allowing the authority to provide help this summer.

"It really is a blessing to these seniors, because a majority of them only have $700 to live off of a month," Ms. Johnson said. "When you're looking at bills that range from $200 to $400, that's a burden."

The burden had become too much to bear for Mozell Lewis. The Augusta woman said she feared she would not be able to pay her $112 power bill this month.

"This is just a blessing from God," she said. "I'm having heart surgery this week, so now I can stay cool while I'm recuperating."

Reach Stephanie Toone at (706) 823-3215 or stephanie.toone@augustachronicle.com.