Published: June 30, 2009 10:59 am      

TCoG and other agencies offer relief from high cooling bills

Complaining about hot weather is a popular pastime these days.

Temperatures have recently passed the century mark and if past summers are an indication, North Texans are in for several more months of relentless heat.

Soaring temperatures lead to high utility bills, and that worries some people including Brenda Smith of Texoma Council of Governments.

“It’s sad, especially for the older folks who may not use their air conditioning because they are afraid they won’t be able to pay the bill,” she said.

Some local organizations provide assistance for families and individuals who are struggling to pay their cooling bills.

VISTO (Volunteers in Service to Others) helps with some expenses including heating or cooling-related bills, but only in emergency situations.

Other assistance programs are available.

Serving Cooke, Fannin and Grayson counties, the Texoma Council of Governments offers some utility bill relief to qualified individuals.

“Our energy assistance program is designed to help people learn to use energy effectively. We can repair or replace cooling units that are using too much electrify. We cannot act as an emergency program, but we do provide some (bill) assistance,” she said.

The first step is to call the TCoG’s Sherman office to set up an appointment.

TCoG representatives come to Gainesville twice a month on Tuesdays to interview prospective clients at the Workforce Solutions center on Grand Avenue.

Appointments fill up quickly, Smith noted.

“We will begin taking calls July 15,” she said. All appointments prior to July 15 are already spoken for, she added.

The agency has also done some community intakes in the Gainesville area.

“We are hoping to reach more people, especially the elderly,” Smith said.

Older folks can often get significant assistance.

“When we see the elderly, we review their utility bills and pick out the four months they had the highest expenses in the previous year. Then we help them with those four bills during the current year,” she said.

The assistance may not completely cover the bill.

“We may pay $100 or $150. Then the client can put some money with that and be able to stay cool,” she said.

Beginning July 15, area residents can begin calling (903)813-3566 to set up an appointment with the TCoG.

It may take several times to get through, Smith said.

“They should be prepared to call several times. The phones get busy when we are taking appointments,” she said.

For more information on community resources call 211 or visit the 211 Help in Texas Web site at www.211Texas.org.

Oncor Electric Delivery also offers energy efficiency options.

The company’s Take a Load Off Texas Campaign includes a traveling exhibit designed to teach people how to save money by using more efficient appliances.

In its third year, the campaign to raise awareness about energy efficiency and promote Oncor programs has expanded beyond the bright yellow van and interactive exhibits that toured the Oncor system for the first time in 2007, an Oncor press release stated.

The mobile program’s designers hope to reach residents from small children to the elderly.

For example, young kids can learn how to caulk, weather strip, and insulate a playhouse using a children’s toolkit.

The elderly can play Senior Energy Efficiency Bingo — a version of a popular game that educates mature citizens about energy efficiency steps they can take.

Oncor also plans to introduce a Take A Load Off, Texas Center on Wheels — a self-contained trailer with exhibits on solar installations, duct sealing, insulation, heating and air conditioning, energy-efficient appliances, windows, lighting and solar power.

According to its Web site, the electric delivery company offers nine programs for residents of Oncor's service area including home energy efficiency, refrigerator recycling, ;low-income home weatherization, Energy Star home performance tests, and air conditioning installations