Helping our neighbors weather tough times

Everyone can use a little help now and then. To that end, we work with community partners to help the less fortunate weather times of need. Our low-income assistance programs help underprivileged customers pay their electric bills and make their home more energy-efficient.

State and local nonprofit agencies manage the low-income assistance programs listed below. For the name and telephone number of the agency providing services in your area, call us anytime at 1-888-221-7070.

Oregon

• Community Energy Project, Inc., of Multnomah County — provides senior and disabled citizens with energy education and energy-efficient measures.

• The Oregon Housing and Community Service’s REACH — provides needs assessment, energy education, budget management, debt counseling and household action plan development programs.

Washington

• Energy education to public schools — provided to students in the lower Yakima Valley and Walla Walla. The programs include an incentive for students to decrease energy usage, in order to teach efficiency habits at home.

• Yakima Valley Opportunities Industrialization Center — provides needs assessment and case management counseling services, including the development of a family budget and energy education. Participants receive do-it-yourself maintenance and upkeep on appliances. Referrals to programs such as food banks, medical services and weatherization programs are available, in addition to employment and training opportunities.

Wyoming

• Wyoming Energy Council, Inc. — replaces inefficient appliances such as refrigerators and air  conditioners with Energy Star-certified models. These replaced appliances are removed from homes and recycled according to EPA guidelines.

We also contribute to Oregon HEAT, Energy Share of Wyoming and Washington and California's Project HELP. These organizations help families and seniors in need pay their winter heating bills. 

We include donation envelopes in our bills every November and February to encourage customers to contribute to these organizations and we match all customer donations, dollar-for-dollar. All contributions go directly to the agency in your area and are considered charitable donations for tax purposes.

In 2003, Pacific Power matched customer contributions to these organizations, providing $216,000 to help residents pay winter electricity bills. 

If you need assistance, please see contact information  for each of these agencies.

For additional low-income energy assistance programs and services in your area, please visit the  U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.