Westario Power and Bruce County Social Services are partnering to help low income customers with the electricity bills.
Westario Chair Mark Kraemer announced the company is putting up $100,000 over the next four years as part of its new Low Income Energy Assistance Program, which doubles its previous contributions to assistance programs.
Kraemer says Bruce County will administer and distribute funds for the program on a case-by-case basis, pointing out the county has the expertise in place to run the program properly.
Westario Power came under criticism this past winter for going ahead with disconnections despite extreme cold, and Kraemer says this program aims to avoid that situation this winter.
Brockton council has been among the most critical of Westario Power and Mayor David Inglis says they are doing the right thing.
The Low Income Energy Assistance Program goes into effect on January 1, 2016 and will only be available for Westario Power customers.
"Those low income families that have trouble during the winter months with their electrical bill, this is certainly going to reach out to more people and by doubling the amount of assistance from Westario over the next four years, the $100,000, is just fantastic," says Inglis.
."We've heard what they've said, we are responding to it by doubling our commitment. Is it going to cover everybody? Only winter will tell us that, but at the end of the day, I think we've stepped up corporately, we've done, I think, as good as job as we could do with the resources available," says Kraemer, who adds their disconnection policy remains unchanged.
