Senior Discounts Site
Finds Ways for Senior Citizens to Save on Energy and Utility
Expenses
Discounts found for gas, electric and
city utilities
By David Smidt, SeniorDiscounts.com
Aug. 20, 2009 - The average annual energy bill for
a Single Family Home in the United States is $2,200. This cost can be
quite a burden, especially for fixed-income households, when coupled
with greater gas prices for our automobiles and increasing prices on
many consumer goods. But there are programs to help older people with
the cost of energy bills; you just need to know where to look.
Some of the best places to begin looking are with
your local government and the company which supplies your energy.
Many local and state government agencies have
programs for older adults in need of assistance with paying home energy
costs. These programs may have different requirements for qualification.
Some may require that you be of a certain age or income level, while
others may require both.
Age Requirements: If there is an age requirement for participation, expect it to begin
anywhere from 60 to 65 years of age. But every program is different and
age requirements can be lower or higher depending on the program and
location, so it is worth checking with your state or local senior
services agency regardless of your age.
Income Requirements: If there is an income requirement, there may be no age specification to
receive a discount. Programs will instead look at the number of people
in your household and the total monthly income (which may include Social
Security benefits) to determine if you are eligible for a discount.
To locate these government programs, start with
your citys web site. Most major cities have a Department for Senior
Affairs with relevant contact information.
Many larger cities also post
the senior home energy programs on the site along with application forms
or contact numbers. You can also call the local city information line
located in the government pages of your phone book.
You can also try contacting your local home energy
supplier. Many energy providers are required to provide discounts on
energy usage to low income households as well as seniors. You can start
by visiting your energy companys web site, but you may find often the
information is difficult to track down.
The simplest way may be to call
your local provider directly and ask if they provide any assistance for
fixed income senior households. You can usually locate the companys
customer service number on your current energy bill.
Discounts for both local government and energy
providers vary. City program discounts may depend on the amount of
income per household as well as previous energy usage; the lower the
household income, the higher the discount amount. Energy providers will
typically provide a set percentage off your total heating bill and may
stipulate a maximum set dollar amount they will provide per month. So
you may find a 20% discount on your energy bill, but only up to the
first $20.
We hope this information helps save you some money
in the upcoming months and years. You may contact us with any questions
at: info@seniordiscounts.com.
Aug. 20, 2009 - The average annual energy bill for
a Single Family Home in the United States is $2,200. This cost can be
quite a burden, especially for fixed-income households, when coupled
with greater gas prices for our automobiles and increasing prices on
many consumer goods. But there are programs to help older people with
the cost of energy bills; you just need to know where to look.
