The Norton Sound Economic Development Corporation (NSEDC) has announced their 2018 energy subsidy for residents across the region.
Following a vote from NSEDC’s Board of Directors, the corporation will issue $575 to every household throughout 15 NSEDC member communities. This subsidy is worth the same amount NSEDC has provided for the past few years, adding up to about $1.5 million to be paid to local electric utilities on behalf of residents.
In a statement from NSEDC, Board Chairman Dan Harrelson says, “we hear over and over how helpful the subsidy can be during a time of the year when energy bills are at their highest and employment opportunities are at their lowest.”
According to NSEDC, there are roughly 2,700 households who could receive this energy subsidy throughout the region. For those who are living off the electrical grid, NSEDC will offer a $575 heating fuel credit instead.
NSEDC staff will be visiting each member community this month to help residents get on the list to receive the 2018 Energy Subsidy. Sign-ups for Nomeites will be held at City Hall on February 15th and 16th. (View the full schedule for each community here.)
Applications for the subsidy will be accepted until March 16th, with payments expected to be made in April.
Those residents who are unable to sign up during the scheduled event in their community are asked to contact Kerilee Ivanoff in Unalakleet by phone at 1-800-385-3190 or by email at kerilee@nsedc.com. Subsidy recipients are also reminded that they need to continue to pay their monthly electric bills until the subsidy is applied in April.
Image at top: file photo: David Dodman, KNOM.
