By Natalie Falbo,
Black Hills Energy
Earlier this year, Black Hills Energy filed a base rate update request with the Colorado Public Utilities Commission for the first time in eight years. Our goal is making sure we can continue to deliver safe, reliable energy for our customers while simplifying bills.
Black Hills Energy has created a new, local position to help our customers with energy assistance options. As the new Energy Assistance Program Manager, I’m excited for this new role. I’ve grown up in Pueblo, have been very involved with the local business community as a small business owner myself and have chosen to raise my family here. It’s why I feel ready to help our customers, friends and neighbors find resources to better connect with energy assistance.
I have experienced the need firsthand with my own family and friends. I have worked with the underserved as a daycare owner and have helped small business owners navigate change and growth in this community as a small business banker. The impacts that higher costs have on all of us is the main reason I want to do this work for Black Hills Energy. This is a community that I live, work and play in and I am proud to continue to find ways to improve our lives with energy.
First, I’m working hard to connect with our Southern Colorado customer base and understand their specific needs by talking with individuals and local human services agencies, while staying close to our customer service team. I’m working to remove barriers to help make it easier for customers to get assistance, including working with the Colorado Public Utilities Commission to increase eligibility. I’m also helping customers get the assistance they need by referring them to local agencies that can help.
There are a few programs all of our customers can take advantage of, with one being Budget Billing. This free plan helps stabilize monthly energy bills and eliminates seasonal spikes by averaging your usage over the past year, so you’re paying the same each month. If you’re worried about high bills during the summer months when air conditioners are running often, Budget Billing could help.
Another option is Payment Arrangements. A variety of circ*mstances can lead to a late payment – from other unexpected expenses, loss of income or simply overlooking the due date. To help you get back on track, this program gives eligible customers additional time to bring their accounts up to date by making payments that are divided evenly over an agreed-upon time frame, rather than having to bring their accounts current all at once.
Most importantly, please remember that the biggest impact on monthly energy bills is your energy use. Making an effort to be more energy efficient at home can help lessen the energy burden and therefore, your monthly bills.
We regularly share ideas for how homeowners and business owners can conserve energy to help save money on our website. Many tips are easy and inexpensive – like installing and using a programable thermostat, closing curtains during the day to maintain an indoor temperature, regularly changing air filters or unplugging appliances and devices when they’re not in use.
Other tips are more involved, like adding weatherstripping, caulking and sealing windows or adding insulation to your attic. We also encourage everyone to review our rebates, which cover thermostats and specific energy efficiency upgrades like newer, more energy-efficient appliances. Through rebates, Black Hills Energy will help cover the cost of these energy-saving home improvements.
We know that conservation and energy efficiency measures alone may not be enough for some customers, so we encourage anyone struggling with monthly bills to review these options and contact us (888-890-5554) with any questions.
Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP): LEAP helps income-qualified families, seniors and individuals with home energy costs. Funded federally, LEAP assists with heating expenses, equipment repair and replacement. Apply online on the Colorado PEAK website starting Nov. 1, 2024, or contact the Colorado state LEAP office to find out if you are eligible.
Energy Outreach Colorado: Customers can reach out to Energy Outreach Colorado, a statewide nonprofit organization that raises funds to support income-qualified Coloradans afford their home’s energy.Energy Outreach Colorado connects customers to other nonprofit organizations and programs including bill payment assistance, energy efficiency upgrades and community solar subscriptions. Black Hills Energy provides funding to Energy Outreach Colorado through Black Hills Cares, which collects voluntary contributions from customers and employees and matches them with company funds. To access these funds, visit www.energyoutreach.org/contact-us.
Black Hills Energy Affordability Program: Lastly, Colorado Electric customers can contact Black Hills Energy directly to apply for the Black Hills Energy Assistance Program or BHEAP. BHEAP is funded through a monthly charge collected from all Black Hills Energy customers to assist income-qualified customers with an affordable bill amount. Approximately 2,600 income-qualified residential electric customers are currently receiving bill payment support from BHEAP in Colorado, totaling $4.1 million in annual assistance. To learn more, visit our website.
I look forward to helping customers across our Southern Colorado communities, including Pueblo, Cañon City, Rocky Ford and throughout the Arkansas Valley. Our goal is to offer immediate support and work with community partners to get customers access to the resources, programs and funding they need, while also helping customers understand the role of energy efficiency and usage on monthly bills.
I understand the impacts and am ready to help our customers. We take our responsibility of serving Southern Colorado’s families seriously and will work hard to continue providing you not only with resources and support but also with safe and reliable electric service.
Natalie Falbo is the Energy Assistance Program Manager for Black Hills Energy.
Originally Published:
