Winters chill bring higher heating bills

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, January 2, 2001

Danile Tyler Gooden

CONVENT – Though we can say goodbye to 2000, unfortunately we cant dismiss last months heating bill. With the combination of high natural gas prices and a very cold winter season, heating bills are rising almost out of reach for some low-income families. In St. James Parish there are some organizations that can lend a helping hand.
The closing price on gas at the end of the year was $10.50 per million BTU, much higher than last years close at $2.33. At St. Vincent de Paul in Lutcher the organization routinely helps out the needy by donating food stuffs and helping with bills. “This month were finally going to be crushed with heating bills,” said Pete Roussel.
Roussel and the other volunteers that help run St. Vincent de Pauls filter through who needs the most help and how much. Sometimes they pay all of the bill and sometimes just part. On average they pay about $75 a month per bill, said Roussel. Usually 10 or 12 will be brought to the organization.
St. Vincent de Paul is strictly a charity organization, making most of its money from selling second hand clothes and other thrift store items. “We try not to put out more money than we take in a week,” said Roussel.
There are donations made to the organization, but it adds to about $3000 a year, he added. When the gas bills get up to $150 or $200 a month, then many of the regular families that come to St. Vincents for support can come close to paying their bill. “The gas bills will be eating us up,” said Roussel. When they cant help everyone, Roussel send some of the families to the St. James Parish Human Resources Department. They also help needy families with their bills.
There are several programs with which human resources helps pay monthly bills. Usually the department can pay a one month bill, twice a year, if the funds are available, said Sheila Clayton, supervisor of special programs.
The departments total budget for the year is around $62,000 for all the programs, at least $30,000 going toward paying bills. Though money was getting tight by the end of the year, the new budget allowance comes with the new year. That doesnt mean the department can spend it all at once, but rather Clayton must make it stretch all the way to next December. Some of the strain of helping so many is lifted by the different charities in the parish, such as St. Vincent de Pauls and the Social Concerned Ministry Group at St. James Catholic Church in St. James, said Clayton.
At St. James, the charity group gives energy assistance to local needy families, said Anatole Monconduit. Those requesting assistance submit an application and the group will help pay up to $160, but only once a year per family. They help about three families a month, said Monconduit. In December the charity still had no request for assistance. “The local families do not abuse the charity,” said Monconduit. “Most of the money comes from the churches weekly collections, though the parish human resources department does give assistance too, when the funds are low,” he added.
Another group is lending a helping hand. Entergy Louisiana announced in December that $282,965 had been collected to help elderly and low- income families with their utility bills.
The Helping Hands and Project Care programs, both community-based programs funded by donations from Entergy employees and customers.
“We are proud of the overwhelming generosity of Entergy Louisianas employees and costumers when called upon to help those most in need this winter,” said Renae Conley, president and CEO of Entergy Louisiana. “It is gratifying to know that our employees and customers are doing so much to help our neighbors who often face the heartbreaking choice between heat and food,” she added.
Donations to Helping Hands and Project Care are collected through Entergys billing system. Customers and employees alike can indicate on their bills that they wish to pay an additional amount on their bill for the Fuel Fund. The Louisiana contributions are part of a total of more than $725,000 donated by customers and employees throughout Entergys four- state service territory.
With gas prices continuing to rise and the weather not getting any warmer, be sure to make your house as heating efficient as possible. Also, if your looking to make a charitable donation, be it part of the holiday season or before the coming tax season, be sure to contact a local charity that can help needy families keep their heat on and pumping this cold January.