Even with the approach of summer, financial assistance from Puget Sound Energy remains available through PSE’s HELP (Home Energy Lifeline Program) program to eligible customers in King, Pierce and Snohomish counties who need assistance paying their PSE electric and natural gas bills. Depending on income and household size, a qualified PSE customer can receive up to $750 in PSE utility-bill credits.

“While our customers saw lower natural gas bills this past winter, due to a 13-percent rate drop that went into effect last October, this spring’s stretch of cool days and rising prices almost everywhere have increased the need to help customers throughout the region pay their utility bills,” said Agnes Barard, PSE director for Customer Care.

PSE’s HELP fund is administered by local energy-assistance agencies in each county. Locally, the agency is Hopelink for North and East King County at 1-800-348-7144.

In 2007, the fund assisted nearly 18,000 families in 11 counties. This year the agencies in eight counties have exhausted their HELP funds, still leaving the door open to helping eligible families in King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties pay their PSE electric and natural gas bills.

PSE’s toll-free phone line, 1-866-223-5425 (with recordings in English, Spanish, Russian, Korean, and Vietnamese) and Web site, www.PSE.com provide the local phone number of the energy-assistance office in each county PSE serves.

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