An Energy Share grant helped a Libby couple through the winter after a difficult pregnancy made it impossible for the wife to work and the bills kept mounting up unpaid.

The couple learned about Energy Share from the Flathead Electric office staff in Libby and applied for emergency help.

The $340 grant they received helped supplement the husband’s Veterans Affairs pension.

"It made a very big difference," said the wife, who asked that the family’s names not be used for this story. "It was very helpful."

A total of 145 families in Northwest Montana were helped by Energy Share during the last fiscal year, with $40,000 in aid distributed.

Energy Share is a private, non-profit corporation established in 1982 to help Montana’s less-fortunate citizens cope with emergency situations. Applicants for assistance must be facing an unavoidable emergency and must have exhausted all other resources.

The program is funded by donations from individuals and businesses. A local volunteer committee considers applications for assistance and distributes the funds with no deductions for administrative costs. All donations from a region stay in that area to help local residents.

Envelopes for contributions to Energy Share will be included in the November bills. Please consider making a donation so Energy Share can keep helping needy families in our area.

Although the Co-op’s rates aren’t going up, the cost of other energy sources is expected to rise dramatically, making help from Energy Share more important than ever this winter.

"Natural gas rates are going up. Propane prices are increasing. Flathead Electric’s rates will remain stable this winter, but the cost of electricity is going up in some parts of the state," said Jan Weaver, Flathead Electric’s Member Services and Billing Manager, who serves on the state Energy Share board.

Applications Received
& Approved:

Montana Peaks
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