Money available to pay utility bills

Tulare County’s residents experiencing economic hardships may be eligible to qualify for a one-time $1,500 grant to pay off past due bills and avoid utility shutoffs.

Residents can apply for these funds through a new state Temporary Energy Assistance for Families program. It is funded in part through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The deadline to apply is Sept. 21.

Residents must meet the following criteria:

- Must be a customer of PG&E, Edison, Southern California Gas Company, or SDG&E.

- The utility bill must be in the applicant’s name.

- Applicant must be a parent, guardian, or non-custodial parent of a child under 18 years of age.

- Applicant must provide the current utility bill with a past due amount.

- Applicant must show provide a photo identification card and proof of U.S. citizenship for each household member.

- Applicant must provide documentation that their household income is below 200 percent of the federal poverty guidelines.

Residents interested in the program should contact The Salvation Army, which is administering the program, for details and eligibility guidelines by calling 1-800-933-9677 or by visiting The Salvation Army’s Golden State Division website (www.imsalvationarmy.org/usw/www_usw_gstate_3.nsf/) and clicking on Temporary Energy Assistance for Families, where applications can also be downloaded.