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Utility appoints Share panel |
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Monday, 04 February 2008 |
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By Lynda Hollenbeck Courier Staff Benton Public Utilities Commission has appointed six local residents to serve on a committee that will determine how to dispense funds accumulated through the city’s new Share program.
Members of the panel are Sandra Herzfeld, Lisa Bridges, Fairy McMahan, Greg Steward, Mary Large and Kama Medders. One additional person will be appointed to serve in this capacity, Terry Mckinney, manager of Benton Utilities, said.
McKinney explained that the Benton Public Utilities Commission established the Share program in the hope of assisting customers battling with high-energy costs.
The program is supported financially by voluntary contributions from customers to aid people struggling to pay their electricity bills, McKinney said. Customers’ bills are rounded off to the next even amount unless they decide to opt out of the program and notify Benton Utilities.
All members of the Share oversight board are required to be city of Benton residents and participants in the Share Program, McKinney said. The committee, in cooperation with the Benton Utilities Commission, will be responsible for developing guidelines in order to dispense the funds from the Share Program Trust Fund.
“After the guidelines are set, the committee will then be responsible for reviewing applications and determining which customers are qualified to receive assistance from this program,” he said.
“Any other community-minded citizens who would consider serving on this committee are encouraged to apply,” McKinney said. “There is still one position that hasn’t been filled.
“To apply to volunteer for the citizens’ committee, please fax a resume with a letter indicating why you are qualified to serve on the committee,” McKinney said.
These should be faxed to 776-5984 or mailed to Benton Utilities, 1827 Dale St., Benton, AR 72015.
Benton Utilities customers will be kept up to date on the program through inserts in their regular utilities bills.
He said information about the program will be posted regularly on the program’s Web site:
www.benton.ar.gov/utility–dept/share–program.htm
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