Fewer Texans receiving utility bill help this summer (funds cut)

[rainbow4321]

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/bus/stories/082206dnbusheathelp.2ca0540.html

Programs to offset high energy prices this summer will reach fewer Texans struggling to pay their air-conditioning bills than last year, despite brutal heat and electricity rates.

Aid workers said there are greater needs but less money is available, both from government programs and charities.

Help with cooling bills this year took a big blow from the Texas Legislature, which helped balance the budget by diverting to the state treasury more than $210 million collected from ratepayers to subsidize low-income utility bills.

Three years ago, the program, known as the System Benefit Fund, provided a 17 percent discount on electricity bills for 750,000 families living in parts of the state such as Dallas open to competition among electricity companies. The program was cut for 2005 to a 10 percent discount reaching 350,000 families and suspended entirely for 2006.