Utility assistance program doles out over $22K

Over 100 power bills on Saipan have been cleared through the Saipan Mayor’s Office Utility Assistance Program, with total subsidies amounting to a little over $22,000.

According to Mayor’s Office staff David Rosario, about 129 power bills from low-income households have been cleared, several of which included reconnection fees that amount to a total of $22,250.

Numbers are from April 5, 2004 to yesterday.

Rosario said interested low-income households can still avail of the assistance until all funds for the program are depleted. The program was awarded $30,000 for this year, with the first half arriving in April and the remaining received by the office in mid-July.

It is intended to assist low-income families in paying for their utility bills. Qualifications of applicants are based on annual income and the number of people living in a particular household. Also taken into consideration are families who have high income but seek assistance due to financial crisis from medical referrals, debts, or deaths in the family. Documents, however, must be provided for proof of referral or family member death.

Also, each family seeking assistance with a power bill can avail of the program just once a year.

Since Saipan Mayor Juan B. Tudela took office, a total of 380 utility bills have been cleared, with 134 in 2003 and 117 in 2002. In 2002, only $24,000 was available for the program.

Last year, the assistance program, which receives funds from the Department of Homeland Security, got underway at a later date compared to this year as funds weren’t available until mid-May. In 2002, funds were made available in June.

According to the Mayor’s Office, the program has been in existence the past 14 years, with funds made available by FEMA before it became a part of the Department of Homeland Security.

Applications for the program are available at the Saipan Mayor’s Office located at Afetnas Square in San Antonio and may be picked up between 7:30 and 11:30am; and 12:30 and 4pm.

For more information, contact the office at 234-6280/08 and ask for Florence Camacho-Stephens or Regina Torres.

Meantime, Rosario said that Mayor’s Office staff would be on-hand during this Saturday’s REACh Energy Fair to be held at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.