Share the Warmth

Winter Isn’t Cozy For Everyone…

Neighbors Helping Neighbors

Woman holding young girl wrapped up in a blanket looking out the window When Old Man Winter visits us, a nice warm home is desired by all. Yet there are people living in Canby who are struggling with situations that make it difficult to pay their utility bills, such as unemployment, medical problems, and other financial hardships.

Canby Utility’s customer assistance program allows neighbors to help other neighbors within our community stay warm during the cold winter months. Share the Warmth (STW) provides financial assistance to qualified customers who need help paying their electric bill. The program is voluntary and supported by generous contributions from you and Canby Utility.

Winter is here, and higher heating bills come with it. Your help is needed now more than ever.

All donations are tax-deductible. Here are a few ways you can help:

  • My check or money order is payable to Share the Warmth and is my income tax receipt.
  • Return Your Check or Money Order with your electric payment or mail to:
    • Share the Warmth, c/o Canby Utility
      PO Box 1070
      Canby, OR 97013

Thank You! Together we can make a difference.

If you or someone you know needs help paying their utility bill, contact our office for more information about the program.

Details About Our Payment Assistance Program

Purpose

Establish procedures for Canby Utility's (CU) bill assistance program, known as Share the Warmth (STW). This procedure meets ORS 757.687 (11) standards that require consumer-owned utilities to have in operation a bill assistance program for households that qualify for federal low-income energy assistance.

Scope

The procedure establishes criteria for CU's bill assistance program. It allows staff to help those the program was designed for, help others who have a need for temporary assistance in paying their utility bill, and assist customers that are dealing with an emergency or crisis in their life that could use assistance.

Policy

The policy is to assist CU customers in paying their utility bill when the established criteria have been met. CU will open up the STW program in the fall, as long as funds are available, and will close the program when funding has reached a low level. Each qualified applicant can only receive assistance once during the fiscal year under the following categories:

  • Low Income/Disabled/Senior (LIDS)
  • Door Hanger (DH)

A customer may qualify for assistance under the Emergency (E) category in addition to receiving funds under the LIDS or DH categories.

Program Criteria

Low Income/Disabled/Senior Category (LIDS)
  1. Customers shall have established service for a minimum of six months with CU.
  2. Shall meet Federal LIHEAP standards, have a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) card, Oregon Trail Card, or meets low-income eligibility that can be verified through CU's designated third party intake center.
  3. Customers are eligible for $200 per fiscal year. Customers apply through the third party intake center. A door hanger is not required if eligibility requirements are met.
Door Hanger Category (DH)
  1. Customers shall have established service for a minimum of six months with CU.
  2. Customers are eligible for up to $200 in assistance each fiscal year. Customers shall pay the door hanger fee, plus 25% of the past due balance, or the amount that would bring their past due balance to a zero, before the STW funds are applied to their account. Customers shall make the payment within three business days from the date they signed the STW agreement.
Emergencies/Family Crisis/Other Category (E)
  1. Customers are eligible to receive up to $200 in assistance per fiscal year. This may be in addition to receiving funds under the LIDS and DH categories.
  2. Customers apply directly at CU business office. The Customer Service Supervisor or his/her designee will determine eligibility.
  3. Customer Service Supervisor or his/her designee may initiate assistance in lieu of the customer's request if the customer's need is generally and publically known, for instance, from news reports.
Funding

The program is funded by the CU Board of Director's allocating funds each fiscal year, as well as from donations made by individuals and organizations.

How to Apply

Customers apply for bill assistance under the LIDS and DH categories through an established third party intake center. Customers who request assistance under the Emergency category can apply directly at CU's business office.

Amount

Customers are eligible for up to $200 in assistance for either LIDS or DH per fiscal year (July 1 through June 30). Customers may only apply for assistance once during that period. Exceptions may be granted for the E category. Customers that apply for assistance under the LIDS or DH category, see program criteria above.

At the time the account is closed and a credit balance remains that includes funds from the STW program, STW funds will be returned to the program, not refunded to the account holder.

Resolution Number 258

A resolution revising the Canby Utility Board's Share the Warmth bill assistance program.

Whereas, the Canby Utility Board is an Oregon municipal utility operating in accordance with the Canby City Charter and ORS Chapter 225;

Whereas, the Canby Utility Board established a bill assistance program in 1987 to assist its customers with low income and special circumstances in paying their utility bill; and

Whereas, ORS 757.687(11), requires consumer-owned utilities to have in operation a bill assistance program for households that qualify for federal low-income energy assistance in Canby Utility's service area; and

Whereas, on August 14, 2012, the Board adopted changes to the Share the Warmth program, increasing the annual maximum funding limit and establishing a new procedure and revising qualification criteria to better serve specific needs within the utility's service area; and

Whereas, the Board desires to amend the Share the Warmth program to apply the six months of service eligibility criterion to not only the Door Hanger category of customers, but also the Low-Income/Disabled/Senior category.

Now, therefore, the Canby Utility Board resolves as follows:

  1. Adopt Procedure 562, as stated above.
  2. The procedure is effective on February 1, 2013.