Chesapeake Utilities Corp. has increased funding through its Sharing program, a non-profit organization that makes funds available to some of the company’s natural gas and propane customers living on the Delmarva Peninsula.
Annual grants for as much as $750 are available to those who qualify.
“The Sharing program is an important part of our customers’ and community members’ lives and we are committed to increasing the availability and convenience of the program each year,” said Shane Breakie, director, Energy Services for Chesapeake Utilities and president of the Chesapeake Emergency Energy Recipient Program, which oversees the Sharing Program. “We are thankful for the opportunity to partner with organizations like Shore Up, Catholic Charities and First State Community Action Agency, in order to help our customers and community members stay warm in the cold winter months.”
In addition to the annual grant, eligible customers are encouraged to participate in an energy audit through a reimbursement program that refunds up to $200 of the cost of the audit. An audit examines energy usage patterns and provides a list of recommendations for customers to conserve energy and save money on their energy bills.
Over the last 10 years, the program distributed more than 2,000 grants totaling nearly $455,000 to customers throughout the Delmarva Peninsula. Chesapeake created the program with donations provided by Chesapeake Utilities, Sharp Energy (the company’s propane distribution subsidiary), and their employees, customers and other members of the community.
The program works to help those in need during the cold winter months when energy bills are at their peak. The Sharing program has recently expanded into Worcester County, Maryland where eligible customers of Sandpiper Energy can now apply for grants.
