TCC discusses help for customers struggling to pay for gas this winter

Toccoa Staff are working towards a request Vice Mayor Jeanette Jamieson recently made regarding financial assistance for residents struggling to pay for heating costs this winter.

As WNEG News previously reported, Jamieson spoke out during an October Toccoa City Commission meeting, asking her fellow commissioners to consider providing help to those unable to afford to heat their homes.

Jamieson explained, at the time, that because the cost of gas has increased substantially there are some residents who simply can’t afford the increase.

“Your honor, this may not be the appropriate place, but I don’t know any other, I would very much appreciate it if we could look at the possibility of addressing the billing for the increase of gas prices. There are those of us who can pay, then there are those of us who, this increase that we know is coming, will work a financial hardship. I think it’s going to be considerable. I don’t know if we can do anything and pay for the gas. But we should at least look at it,” she said.

During Monday’s Toccoa City Commission meeting, Commissioner Terry Carter asked if City Staff had developed a plan to ensure everyone is able to heat their homes this winter regardless of the cost of gas.

“I know at our last meeting Commissioner Jamieson had asked about budget billing concerning the gas bills that will be going out. Have y’all had a chance to look at that? I tend to agree with Commissioner Jamieson that it’s going to be difficult for folks. It may not be the right time to look at that, but I think it will be very difficult for some folks,” he said.

City Finance Director Becky Bohannon explained that she has reached out to the software provider that handles the City’s utility billing.

“I have an open ticket with our software vender to find out. I have not gotten an answer back yet. But they are supposed to be getting back to me with information about how it works. In the past, when we’ve done it, we’ve had a hard time balancing our accounts receivable. In the beginning, when we first switched software venders, they kind of discouraged it. But I have reached out to them to find out more.

Carter added that the City’s Customer Service Department is willing to work with people.

This year, the cost of gas is over $4 per dekatherm, whereas, last year, the cost of gas was just less than $2 per dekatherm; however, Bohannon says the City’s customers won’t pay the full increase.

No formal action was taken following the discussion.

WNEG News will continue to follow this story and bring you updates as they become available.