Q: What can people do if they run out of money for firewood or power? Does Pacific Power shut off service if people’s bills go unpaid, or does it offer help?

A: No matter what the season, Pacific Power will cut electricity to those who don’t pay their bills. But the statewide service provider is required to give multiple notices and also supplements efforts to assist people who are running short on funds.

According to Phil Handsaker, director of energy services at South Coast Community Action, thousands of energy consumers in Coos and Curry counties receive some form of aid to pay their electric bills. Community Action allocates federal funds, from the Low-income Energy Assistance Program, and state funds, from the Oregon Energy Assistance Program.

This year, Community Action received its funding in December, and as of last week, has provided 721 households with assistance. Handsaker said many recipients would spend 25 percent or more of their income on electricity without the help. In most years, elderly customers or those with disabilities account for a large portion of thse who receive assistance, as many as 1,400.

On average, beneficiaries of the program receive about $267, with the greatest assistance coming to about $800. This year, Pacific Power will send $193,188 to help Coos County residents, Handsaker said.

To be eligible for the program, a household’s income must be at or below 60 percent of Oregon’s median income for that size. For example, the median income of a four-person family is $61,945, so a household with an income less than $37,167 would qualify.

 Normally, an eligible household would be put on a waiting list to receive funding. If the household is at risk of having its power turned off, then it will be bumped to the front of the line. This year, Community Action has delivered emergency assistance to 67 households that were within a day of having their power shut off, 53 that had less than five days and 12 that had already lost their service.

The demand for emergency relief is greater this year than last, Handsaker said. At the same time last January, emergency assistance had been provided to 16 households within a day of losing power, 22 that had less than five days and five were helped once they had lost electricity.

“Typically we don’t turn people away if they have made a good faith effort to pay their bills,” he said.

To apply for energy assistance, those interested can contact Handsaker at 888-1574. A table of income eligability levels is available at www.ohcs.oregon.gov/OHCS/SOS_Low_Income_Energy_Assistance_Oregon.shtml

-Staff writer Alexander Rich