Winter officially begins Friday and no one knows for sure what this coming winter will bring in terms of cold temperatures and heating-related bills. For some Washington Electric Utilities customers who may need help paying such bills, that help is available.

That help is in the form of Project HELP, offered by Washington Electric Utilities. The city partners with The Salvation Army and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul to operate the program. Those agencies decide who will receive help from the program. Those selected to receive assistance do not receive cash to apply toward their utility bills. Based on need, applicants are screened to determine if they will receive assistance.

Aid recipients are given vouchers, which they give to the city. The vouchers are applied to customers’ utility bills. This method ensures the money is spent to meet energy needs and not on anything else.

Project HELP provides options to help those who face challenges in paying their heating or cooling bills, according to city officials. The popular program has been around for about 10 years.

Project HELP raises money to provide that assistance in three ways. First, a Washington Electric Utilities customer may designate a specific amount to be added to his or her monthly utility bill, with that designated amount going to Project HELP.

Contributions are tax deductible. Second, Washington Electric Utilities customers may round up their utility bills to the nearest dollar amount, with the difference between the amount of the bill and the rounded-up dollar amount going to Project Help. Third, a Washington Electric Utilities customer may make a lump-sum donation to Project HELP.

The city’s electric fund donates $10,000 a year to Project HELP, said Matt Rauschenbach, the city’s assistant city manager and chief financial officer, in a previous interview. The city allocates $5,000 to Project HELP in July of each year for use during hot months and $5,000 in December for use during cold months, according to Rauschenbach.

The Project HELP allocation is listed in the city’s annual financial report as “utility assistance contribution.” The city allocates $5,000 to Project HELP in July of each year for use during hot months and $5,000 in December for use during cold months, according to Rauschenbach.

Utility customers contribute slightly over $4,000 during a 12-month period, which equates to about $340 a month, according to Rauschenbach.

For more information about Project HELP, call the City of Washington at 252-975-9300 or stop by City Hall, 102 E. Second St., Washington.