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Council increases cap and allowable payments from Fountain—s Lighten the Load utility assistance fund
Summary
City council approved an amendment to the Lighten the Load agreement with Salvation Army to raise per-person annual assistance to $750 and allow two approved payments per 12-month period; program is funded by late fees and donations and administered by Salvation Army.
The Fountain City Council on June 10 voted 6-0 to approve an amendment to the city—s Lighten the Load utility-assistance agreement with the Salvation Army (Resolution 25-018), increasing the annual per-household cap and allowing additional qualifying payments in hardship cases.
Brett Robinson, customer service manager for Fountain Utilities, told the council the Lighten the Load fund was created in 2005 to fill gaps when Energy Outreach Colorado assistance is exhausted. Robinson said the fund is "exclusively funded from our late fees" and from neighbor donations. He proposed raising the program—s 12-month assistance limit to $750 and allowing two instances per year for eligible households.
Robinson explained details of the proposed amendment: the 12-month assistance limit (section 8(f)) would increase to $750; individual grants generally would remain capped at $500 unless the distribution agency supervisor recommends and the customer service manager approves a higher amount; distribution agency staff could authorize more than two payments in extreme hardship cases provided the $750 cap is not exceeded; and clients who receive assistance from another entity would still be eligible to receive Lighten the Load assistance during the same 12-month period.
Council members and staff clarified eligibility and process. Robinson said Lighten the Load typically helps customers with a past-due balance facing disconnection after roughly 60 days; staff first offers payment arrangements and refers customers to assistance agencies if they cannot make the arrangement. Robinson said Energy Outreach Colorado is the first source and Lighten the Load is used when other funds are exhausted.
Resident Connie Weisenhunt praised the change during public comment: "Before, if you had a disconnect notice, you weren't eligible for a payment arrangement, and now you are. Before, you would only get $350 1 time a year. Now you can get help twice a year up to $750." Staff confirmed the Salvation Army administers the fund locally and that residents can donate via the utilities office or by other methods; staff noted the city does not collect payment-processor convenience fees charged for card payments.
Councilmember Estes moved approval of Resolution 25-018; council voted 6-0 in favor.
Staff said the amendment also allows the distribution agency to coordinate assistance across programs (for example, Energy Outreach Colorado and Lighten the Load) and to authorize additional disbursements for extreme hardship with supervisory approval.
