This
month’s article is about OPALCO’s Project PAL Program. Joyce Smith (right)
has been managing Project PAL since 2000. She has worked at OPALCO since 1999 as
a Member Services Representative in Friday Harbor.
Energy Management Coordinator Martha Warachowski (left) has been Joyce’s assistant since October, 2001. Martha joined OPALCO in November, 2000, and is in charge of load management, conservation, green power, energy thermal storage systems, and key accounts.
Project PAL was developed in 1995 to address the problems some of our members were having with their electric bills, especially in the winter. Some of these members were people who had been paying their electric bills on time for years and were experiencing economic hardship for various reasons including disability, sickness, emergencies, unemployment etc. Others were seniors who had worked hard all their lives, but their limited fixed income just didn’t cover the basics of shelter, food, or utilities, especially heating their homes during the winter, often because the high cost of healthcare and/or required medications was more than they ever dreamed of. Because OPALCO is member owned, we couldn’t just take our funds - which come from all our members - to pay the bills for those having trouble. Many people on the islands told us they hated to think of other members going without electricity and would love to help if they just knew who needed help and how to contribute.
After talking with each other and with some of our members as well as with other utilities, Project PAL was developed to help qualifying OPALCO members pay their electric bills. Guidelines were developed, and members of the community were asked to participate anonymously by being on the council (which meets around 8 months a year to go through applications and award grants) and/or the Committee (which meets once a year to review the overall situation, discuss possible revision of policies, guidelines, etc.). Information packets were sent out to our members, and Project PAL was up and running when many members agreed to round up their monthly bills and contribute!
Joyce and Martha have proven to be a very powerful and successful team. They work well with members who are requesting assistance as well as the council, which gets together to review the applications and decide how to allocate the available funds. The program has been a real success and has lived up to its original intention.
50% of PAL funds is designated for low-income seniors and disabled persons, with the remaining 50% going to members who meet established guidelines. Project PAL is mostly funded by members voluntarily rounding up their monthly power bill to the next whole dollar (with an average yearly contribution of $6), although some members have chosen to contribute a fixed monthly amount or one-time contribution.
Right now 2,148 members contribute to Project PAL (approximately $1,220 a month). Last autumn and winter, PAL helped 82 seniors, disabled persons, and families in San Juan County with their electric bills. Unfortunately, this last year has brought in more qualifying applications for assistance than we have funds for. If you are not presently a member of Project PAL, we are hoping you will consider joining. If you are, we would like to say thank you from the bottom of our hearts. And, in this time of giving, perhaps you could see your way to share a one-time gift. We want to assure all members that the PAL Council scrutinizes each application carefully, always keeping in mind the guidelines set by the committee. The applications are extensive and include written proof of income for the last three months for the entire household. We’d like to give a “hand up” to those who find themselves in a difficult situation.
One
of our members, Jo Ann Bastron, has graciously agreed to be featured in this article
to encourage other members to contribute to PAL as well as to share her experience
with other seniors who need assistance but are reluctant to apply. Jo Ann has asked
Project PAL for help because, in winter months, her income cannot always meet her
high medication costs in addition to her utility bills. Jo Ann says that some folks
may find it embarrassing to ask for help, but she would like them to know they are
not alone. Jo Ann emphasizes that “the people at Project PAL are helpful, courteous
and will respect your privacy.” She contributes to PAL monthly through the Roundup
Program and, even though it is pennies a month, she feels really good about giving
back to the program that has helped her. She is grateful to all the members who
contribute.
Jo Ann is also excited about the new PAL Gift Certificates because “so many of us really don’t need another pair of earrings or appliance or whatever. A gift certificate for our electric bills is so perfect because it is something many people really need, and it lowers the stress we may feel about how to pay our bills.”
For more information about this great program, please call OPALCO at 376-3550 or 376-3500. You can also get brochures and applications at Senior Services and Family Resource Centers.
Joyce Smith has lived in Friday Harbor for 23 years. She and her husband, Doug, have two daughters and enjoy traveling and hiking. Martha Warachowski has lived on Orcas Island for 40 years. She and her husband, Adam, have two daughters, Adelei and Natasha. Martha enjoys traveling, quilting, sewing costumes and prom dresses and watching the Seattle Mariners with Adam.
