Some Eugene Water & Electric Board residential customers will soon see a $250 bill credit on their EWEB account, while nonprofit agencies and childcare providers can apply for a new utility grant program. EWEB and the City of Eugene are teaming up to distribute $250,000 in federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act dollars that have been allocated to the City to help Eugene utility customers impacted by the pandemic.
To qualify for the credit, EWEB customers need to live in Eugene and be pre-approved for the Energy Assistance Stability CORONAVIRUS Relief Program (EASCR), a federal program administered by Lane County that provides financial assistance to income-qualifying households for home heating and energy bills. Once qualified for EASCR on Lane County’s Energy Assistance website, the $250 CARES credit will automatically apply to the EWEB bill. The credit will be applied retroactively for EWEB customers that already receive EASCR.
A second program focuses on licensed childcare providers and nonprofit agencies providing direct services to clients impacted by COVID-19. Those organizations can apply for a utility grant equal to the lesser of $4,000 or their average monthly EWEB bill.
Non-profits and childcare providers can apply for the utility grant on EWEB’s website.