SouthEastern Idaho Community Action Agency

Rocky Mountain Power is partnering with SouthEastern Idaho Community Action Agency and the Eastern Idaho Community Action Partnership to provide a simple, convenient way for the utility’s Idaho customers to assist neighbors in need. Donation envelopes arrived in the February statements from Rocky Mountain Power and customers are urged participate.

Wendy Doughty is a single mother of three in Malad who benefitted from the program last year.

“It’s not like I sit at home and wait for people to help me,” Doughty said. “I work. I just don’t make enough to always pay my electric bill. It’s pretty awesome when this program can help; you pay what you can, and then they help with the rest.”

Originally from Louisiana, Doughty had never heard of Lend-a-Hand. “I was surprised,” she said. “I didn’t know there was anything like this.”

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SEICAA opened the phone lines November 2^nd for Low-Income Housing Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) appointments! SEICAA staff throughout the seven southeast Idaho counties are scheduling appointments for energy assistance that will last through March 2012. In addition to in-office appointments, staff will travel to homes of the elderly and other households unable to make in-office visits for specific causes.

LIHEAP, in conjunction with other winter heating assistance programs such as Lend-A-Hand, Project Share and Project Warmth, provide vital assistance to households so they may heat their homes. According to the National Energy Assistance Director’s Association (NEADA), “nearly 90% of LIHEAP recipient households have at least one vulnerable member- defined as someone age 60 or older, age 18 or younger, or disabled.” NEADA conducted a survey and found that for vulnerable households “a loss of heat or electricity in the winter could have serious health and safety implications” (National Energy Assistance Director’s Association, 2011 National Energy Assistance Survey Summary Report, November 2011). LIHEAP is made possible by funding through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

To see if you may qualify for LIHEAP, jump to SEICAA’s “energy programs” page, contact SEICAA at 232-1114, or call any of the numbers listed under the “energy assistance” page.

SEICAA is officially launching the SERC energy conservation community based campaign to promote simple ideas that save energy. SEICAA worked with a local advertiser to put together eight short commercials featuring children to demonstrate how simple energy conservation can be! Watch local stations for the spots, or jump to SEICAA's Facebook page ("Southeastern Idaho Community Action Agency") to see the commercials!

The Sustainable Energy Resources for Consumers (SERC) is a one-year pilot program by the U.S. Department of Energy. SEICAA is in charge of community marketing for the program in Idaho.