Multi-Service Center grants help South King County residents pay energy bills

From October 2009 through July 2010, Federal Way’s Multi-Service Center pitched in $7 million in grant money to help South King County residents and Puget Sound Energy customers pay their energy bills.

From staff reports:

From October 2009 through July 2010, Federal Way’s Multi-Service Center pitched in $7 million in grant money to help South King County residents and Puget Sound Energy customers pay their energy bills.

Multi-Service Center issued grants to nearly 16,000 PSE customers from the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and from PSE’s Home Energy Lifeline Program (HELP).

A qualified low-income PSE customer can receive bill credits totaling up to $1,000 through LIHEAP and $1,000 through HELP. During the 10-month period, grants averaged approximately $400 per household.

“We are pleased that the funding of both LIHEAP and HELP made a difference for our neighbors who needed assistance with paying their energy bills, especially during these tough economic times,” said Linda Purlee, director of emergency services.

Multi-Service Center is one of 12 agencies serving residents in PSE’s 11-county Washington State service area. More than 59,000 PSE customers throughout the utility’s area received grants totally nearly $25 million.

For more information about PSE’s bill-payment assistance programs, visit PSE.com.

Multi-Service Center helps low-income South King County residents through comprehensive programs in housing, food and clothing, education, employment services, and energy assistance. MSC is located at 1200 S. 336th St. in Federal Way. To learn more, visit www.multi-servicecenter.com or call (253) 838-6810.