Page 16 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, OCTObER 2, 2020 Help available for customers to pay home heating bills as cold weather approaches W ith winter approaching, Attorney General Maura Healey has issued guidance for customers experiencing financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic and needing assistance paying home heating bills. To further assist vulnerable customers in the coming months, the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office has opened the application period for its third annual Natural Gas Fuel Assistance Grant to provide funding for programs and initiatives designed to help low-income residents with paying or lowering their natural gas heating bills. “Many residents and business owners across the state are struggling to pay their monthly bills, particularly for essential services like electricity and gas,” Healey said. “With the cold weather approaching, it’s critical that customers know their rights and where they can go for help if they need it. We will continue to do our part by educating customers and making funds available to programs working to ensure low-income families in Massachusetts have the financial support they need to say warm this winter.” Early in the pandemic, the Attorney General’s Energy and Telecommunications Division successfully called on the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU) to issue an order preventing utilities from shutting off gas, electric and water service for nonpayment during the public health crisis. Municipal light plants agreed not to shut off residential service as well; however, this protection ends on November 15 for residents, and for businesses, it ended on August 31. Healey’s guidance provides information to customers about seeking payment assistance programs and other options to lower electric bills: Call your utility company about payment plans Massachusetts utility companies are offering several financial assistance programs for both residential and small business customers impacted by the pandemic, including flexible payment plans, as well as balance forgiveness programs for those eligible. Healey’s office encourages customers who are experiencing difficulty in pay~ LEGAL NOTICE ~ CITY OF EVERETT BOARD OF APPEALS 484 BROADWAY EVERETT, MASSACHUSETTS 02149 (617) 381-7445 To Whom It May Concern: This notice is to inform you that a public hearing will be held on Monday, October 19, 2020 at 7:00 PM in regards to an application for zoning relief. In response to Governor Baker’s declaration of a public health emergency and the related Emergency Executive Order dated March 12, 2020, the Zoning Board of Appeals shall be meeting remotely until further notice. The audioconferencing application Zoom will be used for this purpose. An online link and telephone access number will be provided on all meeting agendas and also on the Board’s website. This application will permit the public to access and participate in future Board meetings and hearings. Instructions for joining meetings in this manner will be provided on the City and City Clerk’s website. We extend our thanks for your understanding and participation in this manner, which is intended to keep members of the Board and the public safe. Whereas a petition has been presented by: Property Address: Map/Parcel: Person Requesting: 43 Corey Street C004-000038 Sergio Cornelio 43 Corey Street Everett, MA 02149 Reason for Denial: Applicant seeks to alter and convert an existing two (2) family and change the use to a six (6) unit residential dwelling located within the Dwelling District on a 15,553-sf lot. Permit was denied in accordance to the City of Everett Zoning Ordinance Appendix A as follows: Zoning Ordinance: 1. Everett Zoning Ordinance APPENDIX A Section 4(a)1 limits a single or double semi-detached dwelling existing at the time of the first enactment of the Zoning Ordinance (1926) to convert to not more than a total of three (3) dwelling units. The applicant must seek relief in the form of a variance allowing the conversion of a double semi-detached dwelling to a six-unit dwelling. 2. Everett Zoning Ordinance APPENDIX A Section 17(A)2 requires two (2) parking spaces per dwelling unit. The proposed plan contains four (4) parking spaces requiring relief in the form of a variance for eight (8) parking spaces. MARY GERACE – Chairman ROBERTA SUPPA - Clerk BOARD OF APPEALS October 2 & 9, 2020 ing their monthly bills to contact their providers as soon as possible and inquire about available assistance programs and other ways to reduce energy use and lower bills. Residential and small business customers who enroll in and follow a payment plan with their utility company are protected from having their service shut off for the duration of the plan. Utility companies are authorized to provide payment plans for up to 12 months for residential and small business customers behind in their payments. Residential customers are still protected from utility disconnection between November 15 and March 15 if they are experiencing a financial hardship and the utility service is needed for heating. More information about the shutoff protections available to qualifying Massachusetts residents can be found at https://www.mass.gov/ service-details/when-am-i-protected-from-having-my-utilitiesshut-off. However, shutoff protection, like the winter heating moratorium, does not mean free utility service – making no payments during shutoff protection means a larger utility bill to pay later. The AG’s Office strongly encourages residents who are struggling financially to contact their utility company and discuss enrollment in a payment plan that will also provide shutoff protection and potentially balance forgiveness. Utility companies also offer customers the option of budget billing, which equalizes monthly payments over the course of 12 months. Utility costs often fluctuate depending on the season, the price of energy and customer usage, and budget billing can help manage these fluid costs through predictable payments. Look into low-income assistance programs The Attorney General’s Office encourages residents who are experiencing a loss of income to consult with their utility to see if they qualify for the utility’s low-income rate, Arrearage Management Programs (AMP) or the federal Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Customers might qualify for low-income assistance, even if they haven’t in the past, as eligibility is based on the last four weeks of gross household income. AMP provides for an individualized payment plan that, if followed, allows the customer to have forgiven all or a portion of an outstanding unpaid balance. In order to qualify for LIHEAP, customers must have a household income that does not exceed 60 percent of the state median income. The office also urges residents who are struggling to pay their bills to contact their local Community Action Network to determine if they qualify for available financial assistance. Get an energy efficiency audit Healey’s office also recommends that customers consider contacting Mass Save for an energy efficiency audit that should result in lower monthly utility bills over time. Customers also should review their monthHELP | SEE PAGE 17
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