EMERGENCY ELECTRIC ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
Funded by the Kauai Island Utility Cooperative (KIUC) Charitable Foundation, the Emergency Electric Assistance Program provides emergency assistance to KIUC customers who are past due and unable to pay their electric bill. A household may receive assistance of up to a maximum of $300 for electric service once in a 12-month period.
In addition, KEO administers a separate Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program to to help offset household energy costs or to restore or to prevent the termination of residential electric or gas power.
ELIGIBILITY
To be eligible for the Emergency Electricity Assistance Program, KIUC customers must:
- Physically reside on Kauai
- Have a current account with KIUC (see graphic below)
- Reside at the service location
- Possess a past due KIUC bill or urgent notice
- Have a household income that falls at or below 300% of the Federal Poverty Level (the incomes of all persons residing at the service address are included)
HOW TO APPLY
Apply with KEO:
Kauai Economic Opportunity, Inc.
2804 Wehe Road
Lihue, Hawaii 96766
Phone: (808)245-4077 ext 242/Email: jhonjiyo@keoinc.org
and provide the following:
- Completed KEO Intake Application
- Proof of residence and responsibility if KEO client is not the KIUC subscriber
- Verification of Income
- Either –
- documentation that applicant or family member is already receiving any of the following assistance: Federal – SNAP, TANF, General Assistance-Temporary for the disabled, Social Security Disability, Social Security Medicaid, HUD County – Section 8 Housing.
- Or –
- Paystubs for the past 3 months
- Social security letter or printout
- Unemployment printout
- Child support
- Self-employment: General Excise Tax filing, tax returns
- Retirement pension
- Veterans Benefit
- Gifts
- Either –
- Verification of household members
- Birth verification (birth certificate, passport, etc.)
- Picture Identification of applicant
- KIUC past due bill or urgent notice and current bill
- Verification of assets
- Savings and checking account statements
- Profit Sharing, 401K, IRA, Mutual Funds. Pension statements
- Receipt of payment for any amount over the $300.00
ENERGY SAVING TIPS
These Top Ten Tips include simple and low-cost ways that every consumer can use to conserve energy and save money.
1. Replace regular incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs
CFLs use about one-fourth the energy of an old-fashioned incandescent bulb, last longer and are cooler, reducing the need for air conditioning. Changing just one 100-watt bulb to an equivalent 26-watt CFL, based on three hours use per day, can save 81 kWh and $24.00 per year per bulb.
2. Use fans instead of air conditioners
Two fans, rather than an 8,000 Btu/H (British thermal units per hour) room air conditioner running four hours a day, will save over 1,150 kWh and $345 per year.
3. Shorten showers
Cutting just two minutes per shower could save up to 463 kWh and $139 per year.
4. Fix leaky faucets
One drop each second can waste about 1,661 gallons of water a year. A leaking hot water faucet wastes both water and up to $79 in energy costs per year.
5. Wash clothes in cold water
Switching from Hot Wash/Warm Rinse to the Cold/Cold cycle on a standard, top-loading washing machine for just two loads a week can save 225 kWh and $68 per year.
6. Eliminate energy sneakers (phantom loads)
Even when turned off, things like hairdryers, cell phone chargers and televisions use energy. Use a power strip to conveniently turn off computers (after properly logging off), monitors, printers and chargers for camera batteries, phones and PDAs, all of which use standby power when not in use. Using a power strip to turn off your computer alone can save 50 kWh and $15 per year.
7. Air dry dishes
Letting dishes air dry instead of using heated drying on the average dishwasher saves 110 kWh and $33 per year.
8. No peeking
Limiting how often and how long you open the refrigerator will save electricity and protect the appliance. Also limit opening the oven while cooking or baking to save electricity, protect the appliance, and speed up cooking times too.
9. Install motion/occupancy detectors indoors and out
Cutting use of a 150-watt, outdoor flood light from six hours to one hour per night with a motion sensor saves up to 270 kWh and $81 per year. Switching off a 100-watt light for just one, 8-hour day per week, can save 41 kWh and over $12 per year.
10. Use Energy Star Appliances
When it is time to replace or add appliances, look for the Energy Star symbol on clothes washers, dryers, dish washers, freezers, refrigerators, room air conditioners and home electronics. Visit www.energystar.gov.