Grant PUD considers assistance because of coronavirus
CHERYL SCHWEIZER | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 5 years, 8 months AGO
Senior Reporter Cheryl Schweizer is a journalist with more than 30 years of experience serving small communities in the Pacific Northwest. She began her post-high-school education at Treasure Valley Community College and enerned her journalism degree at Oregon State University. After working for multiple publications, she has settled down at the Columbia Basin Herald and has been a staple of the newsroom for more than a decade. Schweizer’s dedication to her communities and profession has earned her the nickname “The Baroness of Bylines.” She covers a variety of beats including health, business and various municipalities. | August 5, 2020 12:19 AM
EPHRATA — Grant County PUD officials and commissioners are considering proposals to provide temporary assistance to residential customers who have been affected by the COVID-19 outbreak in paying their electricity bills.
Terry McKenzie, senior manager of customer solutions, emphasized that the proposals are still under discussion and haven’t been implemented. When they might be implemented is still to be determined.
Two of the options involve the district’s Share the Warmth program. McKenzie said Tuesday that the program allows qualifying customers up to $300 per year to help pay their bills. The PUD uses federal guidelines to determine eligibility.
In the case of these proposals, if either of them were adopted, customers would have to show their income was affected by the coronavirus outbreak. McKenzie cited the example of a customer who suffered a temporary job loss.
The first option would allow customers who already qualify for Share the Warmth but have used their yearly allowance to receive up to $150 more aid for the rest of 2020.
The second option would make a temporary change in qualification rules. Under the current program, applicants must submit three months of income information. The change would allow applicants to submit one month of information instead, if they could show their income for that month was affected by the coronavirus outbreak. Qualifying applicants would receive up to $300.
The third proposal involves the district’s discount program. Currently it’s available to qualifying low-income disabled and senior citizen customers. It provides a discount of up to 20 percent on a customer’s bill.
McKenzie said if the proposal is approved, the discount could be offered temporarily to customers affected by the coronavirus, such as somebody who was laid off.
“If a customer is struggling, call us,” she said. The PUD has existing options for customers, and can direct people to charitable organizations that may be able to help them, she explained.
Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at [email protected].
ARTICLES BY CHERYL SCHWEIZER
Road closures, roundabout, mean construction season underway
EPHRATA — The grass is starting to turn green, the trees are starting to leaf out, construction crews are starting to build roundabouts – hey, it’s spring. At least one roundabout project is in its final phase, held over from fall 2025. The intersection of State Route 282 and Nat Washington Way will be closed the week of April 6 to allow crews to install permanent lights. “This really is the final (closure),” wrote Grant County Administrator Tom Gaines in a media release. “The roundabout will close at 6 a.m. Monday, and we plan to reopen by Friday, possibly sooner if the work finishes early.”
Ybarra announces run for Washington Senate
QUINCY — State Representative Alex Ybarra, R-Quincy, has announced his candidacy for the Washington Senate. If he’s elected, he would replace Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake, who announced her retirement in March.
Othello Community Museum to open April 25
OTHELLO — With a couple of new exhibits, a new heating-cooling system, rearranged displays and a thorough cleaning, the Othello Community Museum will open for the summer April 25. The goal, said Molly Popchock, museum board secretary, is to operate for a full season.