The City of Tallahassee Utilities finds itself making accommodations for residents unable to pay their high utility bills this winter.
The Winter Relief Assistance Program, or WRAP, has been extended until Feb. 28.
The program is designed to ease the financial burden resulting from higher than normal energy-use during periods of extreme cold during the winter months.
“We’re really trying to reach out to our customers; we want them to save energy, save water and save money,” said City of Tallahassee Utility Marketing Manager, Sandra Manning. “All spectrums of their needs are our concern.”
WRAP allows residential and non-demand small businesses to carry-over up to 25 percent of their utility bill, from Dec. 21 to Feb. 28, when usage will be significantly less.
Some residents are pleased with the city’s utility assistance program. “I was so relieved when I found out about WRAP, it’s allowing us to catch up on our bills,” said long time Tallahassee resident Marjorie Alexander. “We can keep warm and save at the same time.”
Along with WRAP, customers who qualify as low-income and disabled can receive utility bill payment assistance as well. These programs, Project Share Initiative and Good Neighbor Program, provide weatherization and efficiency measures such as heating and air conditioning system retrofits, free ceiling insulation and water leak repair.
Resident Nick Rector agrees the program will benefit Tallahassee’s most vulnerable citizens. “My grandmother is a resident in the Bond community and it makes me feel at ease knowing she is warm during these extreme cold months,” said Rector.
With WRAP, the payment option can only be made one time per account, deferring the cost of the utility bill.
“The customers make an independent choice as to whether they want the financial help, we’re just looking for alternatives for the needs of the community,” said Manning.
The City of Tallahassee Utilities was the first in Florida to implement a program along the lines of winter relief assistance.
The city encourages utility customers to use energy wisely and take advantage of Energy Smart Plus programs to help save.
Your Own Utilities, offers a wide range of programs, including free energy audits, energy retrofit grants, natural gas and Energy Star appliance rebates, ceiling insulation grants, solar net metering and low-interest energy efficiency loans, to name a few.
For more information on WRAP and other “E+” programs, contact Your Own Utilities at 891-4YOU (4968) or visit Tallahassee’s Government Website.