IID lowers senior age requirement for energy assistance program
The senior age requirement to qualify for the energy assistance program has been lowered, the Imperial Irrigation District announced Tuesday.
The IID board of directors unanimously approved the lowering of the qualifying age from 65 to 62. The change was done to increase participation in the program.
Customers 62 or older who qualify for IID’s Residential Assistance Program can receive a 30 percent discount on their electric bill. Those who meet the new age requirements and are currently enrolled in the REAP program will see the discount reflected on the bill starting in May.
According to IID, around 700 customers will benefit from the change. Before the change, IID said there were approximately 5,300 senior citizen accounts enrolled in the Reap program.
“By lowering the senior qualifying age, more people will be able to benefit from this important assistance program,” said Kevin Kelley, general manager. “This is something the Board has been concerned about for some time, and it comes before the weather heats up and when it will help the most.”
According to IID, the change will cost about $90,000 annually, a fraction of the REAP program’s total budget.
Customers who may be eligible for the energy assistance program can find details on the IID website. They can also contact IID’s Customer Service Department at 1-800-303-7756 or email IID at customerserivce@iid.com.
Participating seniors need to reapply for the program every two years. All other REAP customers must reapply annually.
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