FAIRMONT, W.Va. — Mon Power encourages customers to take advantage of their half-dozen payment assistance options. As part of National Energy Assistance Day, thousands of Mon Power customers are being offered federal and state assistance programs with guidance from West Virginia employees. The programs are being offered for both short-term and long-term assistance, regardless of circumstance.
“You get a call from a lady who just lost her husband suddenly; she’s got four kids; he died, and there was no indication he was even sick,” said Potomac Edison Customer Service Representative Thomas Schupp, who works with Mon Power customers. “She’s always been a stay-at-home mom; suddenly she has to figure out how to pay the bills,” he said.
The half dozen opportunities for energy bill relief include federal programs such as 2-1-1 and the Dollar Energy Fund. The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHR) also participates in emergency bill assistance, special utility discount programs, and the Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP). Payment programs are also offered by Mon Power as part of being a First Energy subsidiary.
“You know you’re not the only one that’s ever gone through this, and you can get out of it,” said Shupp, encouraging customers in need to contact them. “It can be okay, and saying that is very reassuring to people; I get a lot of thanks for that,” he explained.
Approximately 395,000 customers are served by Mon Power across thirty-four counties in West Virginia. Any of those customers who experience issues with their energy bills can be in direct contact with customer service representatives to prevent services from being disrupted. The representatives are West Virginia residents who work with customers regardless of their financial situation.
“I’m a West Virginia resident too and we serve in the same communities that we live in,” Shupp explained.”So you’re having a direct impact on the community you’re in,” he said.
First Energy, Mon Power, and Potomac Edison offer financial assistance and budget billing plans all year for customers in need. Anyone wishing to participate in the LIEAP is asked to contact a representative in February, with state programs taking requests at any point in 2023. Any referrals can be assisted by Mon Power representatives.
“I have customers that call in with similar situations every day,” said Shupp. “To be told that they’re not a bad person, that they’re just going through a bad time, just makes them feel better,” he said.
A complete list of assistance programs and payment plans is available at www.firstenergy.com/billassist.