Faced with high fuel costs, more families than usual are expected to need help staying warm during the holidays and throughout the winter. Progress Energy and its customers and employees in North Carolina are giving the gift of warmth with the Energy Neighbor Fund…
The Energy Neighbor Fund is helping them with funds collected from Progress Energy customers and employees. Since it began in 1982, the program has provided more than $16 million to families in need who live in the Carolinas, Progress Energy’s service area.
The N.C. Division of Social Services and the S.C. Division of Economic Opportunity allocate the Energy Neighbor Fund money to social service to eligible low-income households.
"Our customers and our employees share a collective desire to help those who are facing a crisis to stay warm during the winter," said Tucker Mann, vice president of Customer & Market Services for Progress Energy and executive sponsor of the Energy Neighbor Fund.
In November, the Progress Energy’s employee campaign for its Energy Neighbor Fund raised more than $255,000 in tax deductible donations.
The Progress Energy Foundation provides $250,000 in matching funds to the program, doubling the impact of contributions by customers and employees and helping more families in need.
Contributions from customers last year in the Carolinas totaled near $300,000. Customers interested in contributing to the Energy Neighbor Fund this winter will find information about the program in their monthly billing statements from Progress Energy in December. Customers also can make a donation to the Energy Neighbor Fund through the Progress Energy Web site at www.progress-energy.com.
The Web site also provides tips on how to use energy more efficiently and save money during the winter months.