TOWN OF BERLIN, MARYLAND
Office of the Mayor
MARYLAND
ENERGY ADMINISTRATION APPLIANCE REBATE PROGRAM
Beginning
April 22, 2010. New appliances eligible
effective July 31, 2010. Click the link above for more information
BERLIN ELECTRIC UTILITY OFFERS TWO
NEW PROGRAMS TO ASSIST CUSTOMERS
(October 12, 2009) --- The Town of Berlin’s Electric Utility Department has initiated two new programs to assist the municipality’s residential customers with managing their electric utility bills, Mayor Gee Williams announced this week.
“Both initiatives are aimed at helping town residents successfully cope with residential electric bills,” the mayor said. “One program will help the most vulnerable of our citizens pay for their utility bills as we enter the cold weather months, a time when keeping the power on is not just a matter of comfort and convenience, but of survival. The second program is an Energy Audit Program that can potentially benefit every residential homeowner in town that chooses to take advantage of this free service.”
Both programs are the first of their kind for the town. The first initiative is an “Energy Assistance Program.” It offers citizens and town utility customers the opportunity to help their Berlin neighbors by making contributions to a special fund created to help Berlin Electric Utility customers, truly in need. Contributions to the fund will help those who have demonstrated they have no other recourse, to receive financial assistance with their town electric bills.
The Energy Assistance Program was approved by the Town Council as part of Berlin’s Fiscal 2010 budget. The program enables individuals to make donations to an earmarked fund that will be matched dollar-for-dollar by the Town of Berlin up to $10,000 in cumulative contributions.
ShoreUp! Inc. is administering the program for the town and will insure that recipients benefiting from the fund meet a number of requirements. All recipients must be residential Berlin Electric Utility customers; must have been denied funding through the Maryland Energy Assistance Program; must be facing service termination for non-payment; and must complete a ShoreUp! Agency Intake form.
“We know that as a result of the current economic downturn some Berlin citizens are struggling to meet basic needs,” said Mayor Williams. “But Berlin is a caring community and this offers everyone who wants to help fellow citizens in need, an opportunity to make a difference.”
For more information about the Energy Assistance Program, contact Deputy town Administrator Mary Bohlen at 410-641-4314, or by email at mbohlen@berlinmd.gov
The second initiative offered by the Berlin Electric Utility Department is the availability of free energy audits for Town of Berlin homeowners. During the summer two electric utility employees underwent training and received certification as Home Energy Auditors.
At no cost to Berlin town residents, the Electric Utility home energy auditors will visit homes in the Town of Berlin by appointment and using various non-invasive techniques and equipment, conduct a home energy audit to help individuals determine where improvements can be made to lower their energy costs. Credits are also available to those customers who make recommended changes as a result of the audit.
For more information regarding the Energy Audit criteria click here. Any Town of Berlin homeowner may schedule an energy audit by contacting 410-641-1666, or by email at kbireley@berlinmd.gov
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