Alameda Power & Telecom offers two programs specifically designed to assist financially challenged Alameda households: the Energy Assistance Program and Project EASE.

Energy Assistance Program

The Energy Assistance Program (EAP) provides ongoing assistance to qualifying low-income customers. The main objectives of the program are to reduce the qualifying customer's energy use and provide bill assistance by applying a 25% discount to the customer's monthly electric bill. Program highlights include:

• A free energy audit and recommendations for improvements to reduce energy use
• The installation of up to four compact fluorescent bulbs at no cost
• The replacement of older, inefficient refrigerators meeting certain criteria at no cost. (If the household is a rental unit, a contribution from the landlord is required.)
• Weatherization for homes with electric heat.
• Replacement of fire-hazardous halogen torchieres with new, energy-efficient compact fluorescent torchieres.

The EAP is funded by Alameda Power & Telecom's Public Purpose Program. It is administered by the American Red Cross, who determines eligibility.

For more information, please call the Red Cross at 510-814-4200.

Project EASE

Project EASE (Energy Assistance through Supportive Efforts) provides short-term emergency assistance to residential customers who are financially unable to pay their electrical bills and who have no alternative source of assistance. The program is intended to help after all other resources have been expended.

Project EASE is funded by voluntary customer contributions and an annual contribution from Alameda Power & Telecom. The maximum disbursement for each customer or household is $200 within a 3-year period.

Contribution forms are available on the website and also appear regularly in The FLASH. To print a contribution form...

Again, the American Red Cross administers this program and is also in charge of determining eligibility.

For more information, please call the Red Cross at 510-814-4200.

EAP and EASE not only help financially challenged customers. Both programs help Alameda Power & Telecom meet State mandates for expenditures of "Public Purpose" funds.