20081104Low Income Programs.pdf

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Residential Programs
Low Income Programs
Project Share.
This is a low-income heating assistance program admnistered by the Salvation Ary and
Salvation Ary outreach offices throughout the IGC terrtory. Project Share was stared
by Idaho Power in 1982 and Intermountain Gas now parners in raising funds via direct
and pledge donations from our customers. The 2007 customer contributions totaled
$57,256 with an additional $7,000 donated by the Intermountain Industres Foundation,for a total of $64,256. .
In December2007 Intermountai Gas contrbuted $10,000 to help sponsor the "Season of
Hope" campaign created byKTVB to increase public awareness of Project Share and to
raise donation.s. The 2008 Season of Hope campaign wil run from November 2008 thr
Januar 2009.
Intermountain Gas includes a pledge card for assistance funds each October and promotes
the funds to our customers in the Heating Assistance program brochure included with our
December statements.
We also support the operation of Project Share by being on the board and co-sponsoring
the annul Project Share Provider training session in Nampa with Idaho Power.
Project Warmth
Project Warth is a low-income heating assistance program in Southeastern Idaho which
is admnistered by CAP AI agencies.' Intermountain Gas and Rocky Mountain Power
assisted the CAP AI agencies in creating this fund to provide additional heating assistance
to those in service territories that are not eligible for Project Share assistance.
In the Pocatello/Soda Springs area the main source of contributions is from the Project
Warmth golf tournament held each July in Soda Springs. Both Intermountain Gas and
Rocky Mountain Power assist with planning, donations and attendance for the
tourament and approximately $25,000 is raised anually. Intermountain Industries also
donated $1000 in 2007 to the Pocatello/Soda Springs fund, but pledge donations from
Intermountain customers were only $88.
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The Idaho Falls Project Warth fund is supported solely by pledge donations from
Intermountain Gas customers, $3,591 in 2007 and a $2000 donation from Intermountain
Industries.
Keep Kids Warm
This low-income assistance program, for those families with children, was created by
KI radio 11 years ago in response to a radio request by a chid for money to buy oil to
heat her home. Intermountain Gas parnered with KI in 2007 to help promote the fund
and assist with fund raising, the funds are admnistered by CAP AI agencies in the
Treasure Valley.
Curently, the main source of funds is an on-air auction held by KIZN each December.
Donated items, many provided by country western stars associated with the radio station
via concerts, are auctioned live with all proceeds benefiting Keep Kids War. The 2007
auction raised approximately $60,000. Intermountain Gas employees assisted with the
auction and the auction highlight, a private concert by Bucky Covington, was held in the
Intermountain Gas conference center. In addition, a large gas BBQ gril was donated to
the 2007 auction and another large grill was raffled at the September 2008 KI Listener
Appreciation concert.
In. 2007, Intermountain Gas customers donated $5,959 via direct and pledge donations
and 2008 is off to a great star with $791 raised by the grll raffle. There wil be a Keep
Kids War brochure included with the November Intermountain Gas statements and
pledges are aleady being received from the pledge card insert for October. We are in the
planng stages with KIN for a Keep Kids War golf tourament to be held in
September 2009.
Payment Plans
Level Pay
The Level Pay payment optionallows customers to even out their anual gas expenses
into equal monthly payments. Having a set monthly payment allows for easier budgeting
and smoothes out the low summer and higher winter use.
The Level Pay payment is calculated by adding the previous 12 months usage or based on
square footage, normalized for weather and divided by twelve equal installments. The
plan is reviewed periodically to adjust for an increase/decrease in usage or rate changes
with a tre up once annually.
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Winter Payment Plan
The Winter Payment plan allows customers to pay an amount equal to one half the
normal Level Pay amount during the five months of November thr March. Any balance
remaining afer March may be eligible for payment arangements or the Level Pay
program.
Those customers who declare they are unable to pay their gas bil in full and who have
households that include children, elderly or infir are eligible for the Winter Payment
Plan.
Following the completion of the five month period the customer may pay the remaing
balance in full, or contact the Customer Service Center to discuss other payment options.
Payment Arrangements (short-term)
Customers that are past due and at risk of disconnection may be eligible for a short term
arangement to gain an extension on their date of service disconnection. Customers need
to contact Intermountain and agree to pay a portion of their past due with the remaining
amount plus curent usage due in installment over a period of up to 45 days.
Eligibility for short-term arangements includes factors such as the customer's payment
history, account balance and length of serVice.
Payment Contract (long-term)
A Payment Contract allows eligible customers to pay for a larger account balance
though equal installments over a longer period of time. Upon entering into the
agreement, subsequent billng statements wil reflect the equalized installment of the
balance owed, plus any current usage.
This program is normally reserved for account balances created by biling errors or a
transferred balance.
Budget Contract
Customers with past due balances resulting from extenuating circumstances may pay
their debit balance and estimated charges through equalzed payments over a time period
of several months. Following the completion of the Budget Contract time frame, the
customer would resume payments of any remaining balance plus current usage.
Eligibility wil be determined by management or a specialized agent and factors such as
payment history, account balance and time of service may determne the length of the
Budget Contract.
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