Black Hills Energy to provide assistance to customers across Southern Colorado

PUEBLO, CO. (KRDO) -- Black Hills Energy will provide approximately $340,000 in energy assistance funding to help residential and business customers who need help paying their energy bills.

"We are seeing a lot of families that are struggling right now to get their utility bills paid," said Dee Dee Clement, Executive Director for Loaves and Fishes Ministry who serves Fremont county.

They are one of the not-for-profit partnerships that Black Hills Energy has teamed up with.

"We received some funding from Energy Outreach Colorado and we've almost expended all of those funds and so the fact that Black Hills Energy has given us a $16,000 boost is huge for families in Fremont County," added Clement.

In the past year, they've helped hundreds of families stay warm and keep their lights on as they have a high poverty rate in Fremont County. They can help families pay up to $500 in utility bills.

Now, the program looks to help small businesses in Pueblo. Steven Trujillo with the Latino Chamber of Commerce in Pueblo says this is a big relief.

"Businesses vary on many levels depending on the equipment that they run, but bills can range from a couple of hundred dollars to more so this is going to be able to provide some much-needed relief, especially for those who still had to incur those costs and run their business, but were not able to provide the typical income to pay that," said Trujillo.

Participating not-for-profit organizations will accept applications from residential and small commercial customers and disburse 100% of the funding provided by Black Hills Energy. For more information or to apply for energy assistance funding, customers are encouraged to contact the agency in their area.  

Cañon City in partnership with United Way of Pueblo County (including Penrose and Florence)

Loaves & Fishes 

Brandon Maroni 

719-275-0593

Cripple Creek and Victor

Aspen Mine Center 

Ted Borden

719-689-3584

Rocky Ford (and surrounding towns)

Tri County Family Care Center 

Sarah Dillon

719-254-7776

Posada of Pueblo (Pueblo area and Veterans assistance) 

Kim Bowman

719-545-8776

Energy Assistance Funding for Small Businesses 

Latino Chamber of Commerce 

Steven Trujillo 

719-542-5513