Military Families to Get Help Paying Utility Bills

ALBANY, N.Y. -- Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corp. has reinstated its Operation Family Support program designed to help military families who are having a hard time paying their bills, The Albany Business Review reported Wednesday.

The program is for those families that have a family member called to active duty, the utility said. The program was started in 1991 during the Persian Gulf War. The aid if for "dependents of active military personnel who are having trouble making ends meet," Central Hudson said. Central Hudson has customers in the Capital Region.

Operation Family Support provides a one-time grant of $125 from the "Good Neighbor Fund" for qualified families. The "Good Neighbor Fund" is supported by Central Hudson Customers who make voluntary contributions to the fund when paying their utility bills.

"Many military households are doing their very best to keep life as normal as possible while their loved one is overseas, but may nonetheless be having financial difficulties," said John Checklick, Central Hudson vice president of customer services and marketing. "We want them to know that Operation Family Support can help when it comes to paying their electric and/or natural gas bill."

For more related information, visit the new NYSSCPA Military Assistance page.

-- NYSSCPA.org News Staff

Posted on 04/9/03