Home Energy Aid Month Oklahoma

Three different utility companies in Oklahoma provide their customers with financial assistance as part of Home Energy Aid Month, which is July and/or August. The energy companies work with the Salvation Army as well as the wider community on this program, as donations are used to fund it. The companies that offer utility bill help include:

• Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO)
• Oklahoma Natural Gas (ONG)
• Oklahoma Gas and Electric (OG&E)

The 3 companies focus on all of Oklahoma where they offer service. The applicant needs to be a customer of one of these companies in order to get assistance from Home Energy Aid Month, which often runs in July or August. But in general, thousands of families in cities including Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Norman, Stillwater and other towns as well as cities can qualify. The amount of funds to help pay utility bills is limited, but when Home Energy Aid Month starts up, it is one additional way for customers to get assistance.

Terms of Home Energy Aid Month

The Salvation Army is the lead agency across the state. They take applications for energy bill assistance as well as disburse funds. They also collect donations from the public as well as businesses and the United Way. One of the big advantages of this charity offering the Home Energy Aid Month program is they also give client’s case management.

 

 

Case managers from the Salvation Army in Oklahoma direct families to many other resources. All of that is another resource available from Home Energy Aid Month. Case managements from the Salvation Army can direct PSO, OG&E, or ONG customers to government aid from LIHEAP, weatherization, local charities and so much more. As there are multiple ways to get help with paying electric, cooling, as well as utility bills.

Home Energy Aid Month also relies on donations in July or August from the community to fund it. This is similar to many other utility bill assistance programs. What happens is people may round up their bill to the next highest dollar amount, and that extra round up is given to the Home Energy Aid Month collection. Or charities hold fundraisers during the Home Energy Aid Month or businesses donate. Regardless of where the funds come from, 100% of it goes to help the less fortunate keep their lights, AC units, or electricity on.

As noted, Home Energy Aid Month runs off donations. But one big benefit for contributing during the month is the extra help provided by the utility companies. What exactly do they do? Well, they make a difference.  They do this by matching every single dollar contributed by others, and they match it up to 100%. This means if someone donates $10 to Home Energy Aid, the utility company will also donate $10 and there will be a total of $20 paid out for utility bill assistance. It makes the program twice as effective.

To apply or contribute during Home energy Aid Month, either contact the Salvation Army or call your utility provider. As noted, it is offered by Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO), Oklahoma Gas and Electric (OG&E) as well as Oklahoma Natural Gas (ONG) customers only. The best place to try is your local Salvation Army social service office, and there are locations in all cities, towns and counties.