Do You Know about Utility Assistance Programs that Help Save Money on Your Bills?

No matter where you live in the world today, the pandemic has managed to take a toll on the economy and how we live our lives.

Some people believe things are finally starting to get better, while others doubt that things will ever get back to normal, now that COVID has left it’s mark on all of us.

Although not every household is suffering from the same economic pressure as others, most consumers would happily accept a little assistance when it comes to saving on their utility bills.

Interestingly, there are lots of different programs to help you do just that, but not everyone is aware that these assistance programs exist.

For instance, I live in the state of California, and my utility provider for my electric and water bill is Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP).

This service provider has a variety of valuable programs, designed to help people save money on their utility costs.

Take a few seconds and notice what I discovered while reading my bill. Perhaps the state you live in may provide some type of similar service.

It really pays to read your bill from cover to cover

I know it’s a hassle and not the most interesting thing in the world to do, but it really pays to read your bills from cover to cover. There are at least three good reasons to do this.

1. It’s easy for utility companies to slip unwarranted fees and charges by you if you don’t read your bill.
2. Another reason to read your bill entirely is because there is often information that the law requires companies to disclose. This is exactly the kind of information that may be hidden somewhere amongst a lot of other text located on the back of your bill.
3. The best reason to read and see what’s on the back of your bill is to see what specials or credits are being offered to you.

I recently took the time to read the information provided on the back of my LADWP bill; something I rarely do. I always took for granted that all the details provided on the back were only relevant to homeowners.

Since I rent an apartment and don’t own a house, I never had any interest in the savings they discuss on the back of the bill.

At first glance, the material appears to be directed specifically to homeowners, telling them about conservation credits and rebates.

But to my surprise, when I actually took the time to read what it had to say, I found some other useful information that I wasn’t aware of.

For example, I discovered a lot of different programs that people in various categories can benefit from. Just as I suspected, some of the credits and savings being offered were for homeowners, but there were also several programs that renters can take advantage.

Notice the following ways California LADWP residents can receive assistance and save on utility bills.

Discount Rate Programs:

• Low Income Discount Program
• Low Income Refrigerator Exchange Program
• Senior Citizen Lifeline Rate
• Disability Lifeline Rate
• Life Support Equipment Discount
• Physician Certified Allowance Discount
• Other types of assistance provided by utility service providers.

Besides the above discount rate programs offered by my utility provider, they also have other types of assistance programs that people need to know about.

They offer payment plans for consumers who are having trouble catching up with their bills. There is also the Low Income Home Assistance Program. Both of these services will soon be very much in demand, now that the mandate preventing shutoffs will no longer be enforced.

As we approach the winter months, as well as the repercussions from an unpredictable economy, more consumers, especially renters, need to be aware of assistance programs available to them.

There’s a good chance that California homeowners may already know about the energy efficiency and water conservation rebates they’re eligible for. But renters who do like I used to do and not bother to read their utility bill may still be in the dark (pun intended).

Final Thoughts

If you reside in the state of California, this information could potentially help you or someone you know save money. Don’t just take my advice and opinion about the possibility of saving on your bills. Check it out for yourself.

But even if you live in another state, and you’re reading this information, it could still help.

How? By encouraging you to take out your own utility bills and read the back of them or the flyers and other “junk” that typically comes as an insert with your bill.

You may be surprised to find that you have some of the very same type of assistance programs as the ones offered by the LADWP. If so, you just may be able to start saving money on your utility bills.

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