Read more: Local, Pee Dee Community Action Agency, Energy Assistance Program, Electric Bill, High, Cold, Power Bill, Light Bill
Officials with the Pee Dee Community Action Agency say everyday they get dozens of calls from people needing help, saying their power bills have more than doubled.
In just the last few days, more than 500 people have called the agency because they don't have enough money to pay their power bills. The problem is - the agency doesn't have enough money either.
At the agency office Monday, we met 41-year-old Cynthia Johnson of Florence. She's out of work because she's been ill. She needs the agency to help pay her electric bill, which she says is three times higher this month than last. "My light bill last month was $101 and this month is $301.73 to be exact."
It's a story Queen McCall hears over and over. She works with the agency's Energy Assistance Program. "This is usually the worst time of year. We see most people come in that need the help with assistance."
She says the bills are higher because of the extremely cold weather we had in December and January. "Everybody calls. Everybody needs their light bill paid today. We can't do but so many. We can't do what we don't have," McCall said.
The agency received $305,000 in federal funds to help residents in Florence County pay their power bills, but that money is already gone. "If you don't have no money like the old saying says, you can't get blood out of a turnip."
For the 500 people in need of help, their names will be placed on a waiting list, until next quarter when the agency gets more funding.
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