ST. LOUIS (KMOV) -- After one of the hottest summers on record, many are reaching out to local charities for assistance in paying electric bills.
Ameren, Missouri's director of customer service says the power company has worked out payment plans with 105,000 customers since the start of the year.
"We'll work with every customer unless they've had some peculiar situation, like a default agreement in the past, or written us bad checks," said Bruce Fitz.
Fitz says customers can contact Ameren about setting up a payment plan, then try to reach out to local agencies for help. Ameren's website offers an agency finder feature. Customers can type in their zip code to find an agency that distribute "Dollar More" donations. The list is not a guarantee that all of the agencies still have funding.
Find the agency finder here: www.ameren.com/sites/aue/DollarMore/Pages/DollarMoreHome.aspx
The Salvation Army says some offices may still have funding available, but recommend that customers contact the agency to set up an appointment with a case worker.
The Community Action Agency of St. Louis County says that it is done distributing funds for electric bill help, but will begin signing people up for assistance with heating bills this fall. The elderly and disabled can begin signing up on October 1st. Others can contact the agency, starting November 1st.
Gentry Trotter of Cool Down St. Louis, one of several sources of funding for non-profits that provide utility assistance, said his group received a donation of $10,000 to help people pay electric bills.
This donation is designated to help people in St. Louis County, but Trotter says his group can help others on a case-by-case basis.
Priority groups include the disabled or elderly who are concerned about paying electric bills this summer. Trotter added that there is a wait list to get assistance.
Reach Cool Down St. Louis at 314-241-7668 or go to their website: cooldownstlouis.com/
The website says that the summer program closes 9/6/2011, but Trotter expects to continue offering assistance - as long as donations are coming in.
