Low-income weatherization funds for qualifying PSE customers will more than double next year as a result of the utility receiving more than $2.1 million from the 2005 Enron settlement reached with the Washington State Attorney General’s Office. These funds will be added to the $3.25 million budgeted in 2010 by PSE for the utility’s Low-Income Weatherization Program, which helps qualifying customers save money by upgrading their homes with insulation, duct sealing and weather stripping. “We’re thrilled that PSE will be able use the funds from the Enron settlement to help more of our low-income customers weatherize their homes by making more significant repairs than we can generally offer,” said Cal Shirley, PSE vice president of Energy Efficiency Services. “The additional program funds will now enable us to make extensive repairs to mechanical ventilation, floors, roofs, and electrical wiring that are often necessary before installing weatherization items like insulation, duct sealing and weather stripping.” Washington state settled with Enron in 2005 over its manipulation of the market during the energy crisis of 2000-2001, with restitution being made earlier this month. A total of $6 million is being distributed to Washington state utilities to reduce heating expenses for low-income households and support weatherization programs that improve heating efficiency. PSE, Washington state’s oldest and largest local energy utility, received the largest percentage of the distribution based on the number of customers it serves: more than 1 million electric customers and nearly 750,000 natural gas customers. Administered by 11 community service agencies, PSE’s Low-Income Weatherization program offers free home weatherization improvements to qualifying low-income customers who own or rent their homes, apartments, or mobile homes and heat with PSE natural gas or electricity. The improvements help save customers’ money on their energy bills and make their homes or apartments more comfortable by eliminating drafts and uneven temperatures. For more information about PSE’s assistance programs and ways to lower home energy use, call a PSE Energy Advisor at 1-800-562-1482, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., or visit PSE.com.
Must Read
The Voting Rights Act Is Under Threat. So Are Workers’ Rights.
The Supreme Court's recent decision allowing Texas to use a racially discriminatory congressional map threatens the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which has historically been used to increase Black political participation and worker power.
