ST. LOUIS — Millions of Americans are struggling to pay their energy bills, and the high cost of cooling homes during the summer is expected to make the problem worse. If you're a resident who is having a hard time footing the utility bills, there are programs to help you make ends meet.
As temperatures rise, air conditioning to cool your home is essential, especially for seniors and people with health challenges. Gentry Trotter is the founder and interim Executive Director of Cool Down St. Louis.
"But it's not just the electric bill we're talking about because usage is the enemy not necessarily. The St. Louis area has some of the cheapest electric rates, but it's the usage that will get you, because you if you're doing it right, it will go up because you're using the air more," Trotter said.
According to the National Energy Assistance Directors Association, nearly 20 million households were behind on utility payments as of March. They owe a total of $19.5 billion, that's about $4 billion higher than a year ago. When the summer heat sets in, it's expected to get worse.
Cooldownstlouis.org is here to help. It is adding a new element this summer to further help those who have been hit hard by the pandemic economically, or medically, or by escalating inflation. The organization's programs assist residents in 44 counties in Missouri and Illinois.
"The problem with seniors is affordability. So they panic. They shouldn't panic because if they're in the St. Louis City, St. Louis County, Jefferson County, St. Charles County, Illinois -- all of our partners' consortiums work together to make sure that we can help them with the fear of their utility bill and pay that down," Trotter said.
While some people forgo paying their natural gas bill to keep the air conditioner running, CooldownStlouis.org is teaming up with Spire to help residents not only stay cool, but also have hot water for hygiene and cooking.
"Because if you can take a spire bill for instance, in St. Louis County where we got a million dollars, you can take a gas bill and an electric bill and you can help a family. You can help a senior that gives them the feeling of security that they can make much cooler in their home and making key on the air," said Trotter
The county's $1 million comes from a community block grant for Covid relief. It allows St. Louis County to work with a number of municipalities and nonprofits for housing and utility assistance for those who need it.
Cooldownstlouis.org and its partners will this summer help with natural gas bills and electric bills; and if they are especially delinquent it is best to present both utility accounts at the same time on your online Cooldownstlouis.org applications or when you visit one of our multiple sites or partner's sites.