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Feds Give Idaho $5.1 Million More To Help Fight Soaring Utility Bills

BOISE, Idaho, Jan. 20, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The New Year finds Idahoans facing higher energy bills - from Idaho Power's $34 million rate hike, to Rocky Mountain Power customers being dealt an 11.3% increase to their monthly bills. The hikes mean one thing, more state residents are struggling to pay their bills - and Idaho is receiving $5.1 million more to help them as part of the Low Income Energy Assistance Program, a federal program locally administered.

AARP Idaho recently found that over 40% of the state's 50+ population is having difficulty paying their utility bills and is encouraging eligible low-income and elderly and Idahoans in need, to apply for the funds immediately. The assistance is only available through March 31st, and is given on a first come first serve basis.

"This funding comes at just the right time. As Idahoans across the state are seeing their utility bills soar, there is an increase in demand for the assistance LIHEAP funds provide," said Jim Wordelman, State Director for AARP in Idaho. "Some Idaho residents are forced to choose between filling a prescription and paying their energy bill. No one should have to make that choice."

Income eligibility requirements and how to apply for the assistance can be found on www.aarp.org/ID.

The new LIHEAP funds come in addition to $15.4 million Idaho has already been given as part of the program to help the low-income and elderly in the state pay their energy bills. AARP believes more needs to be done to help Idaho residential consumers.

"Idaho can help ensure that people don't have to struggle with high utility bills due to unfair rate hikes, and giving residential consumers a real voice at the table when utility rate increases are being considered is an excellent way to achieve that," added Wordelman.

This legislative session, AARP is pressing for the creation of a consumer utility advocate office in Idaho to represent and advocate for residential consumers and small businesses, including family farm, in utility rate hike and regulatory cases. Idaho is currently the only state in the West (and one of a handful nationwide) lacking such an advocate office. As a result, while utility companies and others can spend big money to hire lawyers and experts in order to get their way, residential consumers and small businesses are continually left unrepresented in rate hike proceedings. AARP says it's time to change the "pay-to-play" game by leveling the field for all Idahoans by establishing the office.

AARP is Idaho's largest membership organization with over 180,000 members.
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SOURCE AARP Idaho