New Braunfels Utilities - http://www.nbutexas.com

NBU Trustees Establish Utility Bill Assistance Program

A Utility Bill Assistance Program has been approved by the NBU Board of Trustees as part of the continuing effort to assist in the health, safety and welfare of NBU customers during times of hardship and financial need. The program is designed to aid persons in NBU's service area to pay for their electric, water and wastewater bills. The Community Council of South Central Texas (CCSCT), which has administered similar assistance programs in the New Braunfels area for many years, will manage the program for NBU and is charged with accepting applications, determining qualifications and deciding how much assistance will be granted to each applicant.

"Our Board and employees recognized that there was a definite need in our community for a program of this type that addresses assistance with multiple utility services," NBU Executive Director of Customer & Employee Services Judy Waring said. "The establishment of the NBU program is especially timely in light of the closure of several major businesses in New Braunfels as well as the fact that government funding for electric utility assistance has been cut in recent months. The Utility Bill Assistance Program enables us to help the individuals who need it the most in our own community."

The initial funding of $80,000 represents the approximate interest earned from the System Contingency Fund for the last two years. This Fund was established by the Board to enable the utility to respond rapidly with emergency monies for system repairs during times of disaster, and was utilized during both the October 1998 and July 2002 floods. The NBU Utility Bill Assistance Program will become available on March 3. Customers interested in applying for the assistance should call CCSCT at 625-6268.