Norwich — Norwich Public Utilities has enrolled 191 customers in its Matching Payment Program, which helps customers with past-due balances get caught up on their natural gas and electric bills.

“We understand the challenges that some of our customers face in meeting their financial obligations each month,” said Jeff Brining, customer service division manager at NPU. “By working with our friends at TVCCA, we are able to ease some of this burden and help customers get back on track with their utility bills.”

The program requires that customers be approved for energy assistance for the 2017-18 heating season with TVCCA and complete a Home Energy Savings audit with NPU. Customers participating in the program also are required to make regular payments for 12 months to be eligible for equal payments to be applied to their accounts. Last year, 281 customers participated in the program and received $178,984 in matching payments from NPU.

In May 2018, NPU will match the six on-time payments to participants' accounts between November and April. Monthly payments for participating customers are based on the average monthly natural gas and electric bills for each customer and the current balance on the customer's account. TVCCA also provides energy assistance payments to eligible customers, which ranges from approximately $300 to $600.

For information about the matching payment program, contact NPU’s customer service division at (860) 887-2555.