Anchorage Daily News

JUNEAU -- Two charities in Juneau have rolled out a city-funded grant program designed to help thousands of low-income residents weather the effects of a 447 percent increase in the price of electricity.

The United Way of Southeast Alaska and Catholic Community Services are calling the program Juneau Unplugged.

Program Coordinator Kevin Ritchie said the organizations are charting new territory. They are looking for comment on the process as people begin to fill out applications, which are now available.

"We recognize that we will likely have to make changes as we go along," Ritchie said.

The grant program was approved by the Juneau Assembly to mitigate the effects of high energy costs while repairs are being made to the transmission lines from the Snettisham hydroelectric project.

The repairs are expected to take about three months. The town is being powered by diesel generators in the meantime, which accounts for the higher cost of electricity.

The grant amount has not been determined yet. Ritchie said they hope to cover 70 percent of the increased portion on a household bill. He said household conservation would help families cover the rest of the increase.

After the subsidy is determined, the money will go directly to Alaska Electric Light & Power Co.

In general, families below 200 percent of the federal poverty level will qualify. Many are pre-qualified by current participation in any federal program, Ritchie said. Five partner agencies will assist in reaching those most likely to qualify.

Ritchie said he expects to see 3,000 qualified applications before the crisis is over.

For now, Juneau Unplugged has $1 million to aid the neediest in Juneau.

The exact amount available to each home will depend on how many people apply and whether the city dips into the additional $1 million appropriated by the Assembly for the program.

Ritchie said the city was "playing it by ear."

"It will raise or lower the amount," Ritchie said. "We're trying to help everyone who's qualified."

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