Duke Energy Kentucky Wintercare utility bill assistance

Seniors, the medically ill, and other at risk customers of Duke Energy in Kentucky can apply to Wintercare for help with their energy bills. This program was created from donations of businesses and individuals from throughout the service territory. Any help is offered only as the result of contributions from the general public, so the amount of assistance for paying utility bills is limited.

Some of the qualifications to Wintercare are as follows. This is a crisis service only.

• -Applicants from Kentucky need to be senior citizens or have children at home.
• -Any assistance is provided as a last resort only.
• -Funds will only pay for a small portion of the amount of the utility or heating service that is due.
• -Many of the applicants are also qualified for LIHEAP and/or weatherization as income targets are put into place by Duke Energy.
• -Applications need to be screened by an approved agency in the community.

When it comes to donations, there are no restrictions on this. In fact, Duke Energy will try to make the process as easy as possible for people to contribute to Wintercare. There can be one time funds provided or they can use a round up type service. This means that the current utility bill will be “rounded up” to the next highest dollar amount, and the difference is used as a donation.

Duke Energy Wintercare not only uses contributions from the public, but employees and management also contribute. They will try to match other funds up to a certain dollar amount, thereby increasing the number of people that can be assisted. While there is never a promise made to anyone to qualifying for heating bill help from Duke Energy Wintercare, there are often dozens of families assisted each month.

As noted above, there is proof of hardship and other documentation needed when applying. If after that has been done, if found qualified for energy bill assistance, then the customer will only provided a portion of what is due. The intent of any assistance in Kentucky from Wintercare is to provide the household time to find a long term solution.

 

 

 

As an example, the utility bill assistance may be provided while an application to LIHEAP is being processed. Or it can provide the customer of Duke Energy time to enter into a payment plan on what they owe. Another common use of assistance from Wintercare is around timing, such as a senior citizen may soon be receiving a pension check and the funds help during the time-frame.

Duke Energy Wintercare is administered by local non-profits as well. They not only help spread the work on the donation service, but they also screen applications. Many other utility services are run in the region, that also rely on contributions, and those non-profit social service agencies can provide more details. Dial 859-331-1991 for more information or to apply to Duke Energy Kentucky Wintercare.