Atmos Energy and The Senior Source are teaming up to help older adults stay warm during the winter months as temperatures begin to drop.
Funding will help hundreds of seniors in Dallas and Collin County settle past-due debt, repair gas lines and pay utility bills for winter months
Media contacts:
Shaelyn Stone, Sunwest Communications
sstone@sunwestpr.com | (817) 845-5538
Shelby Abeyta, Vice President of Marketing and Communications
sabeyta@theseniorsource.org | (214) 525-6121
DALLAS, TX [December 12, 2024] – Atmos Energy and The Senior Source are teaming up to help older adults stay warm during the winter months as temperatures begin to drop. A $175,000 fund has been established that will be used to help residents over the age of 60 living in Dallas and Collin counties pay utility gas bills, as well as weatherization and gas line repair expenses. The partnership between the entities has provided critical warmth and safety to more than 1,500 local older adults over the past five years.
Atmos Energy recently presented the $175,000 check, part of its Share the Warmth initiative, to The Senior Source staff who will manage the application and distribution process. In addition to expecting increased heating needs during the winter, The Senior Source also cites that the most frequent call for help it receives is for assistance in paying utility bills.
“We realize for older adults who are on a fixed income, the winter months can be especially tough,” says Atmos Energy Manager of Public Affairs Nira McNealy. “Partnering with The Senior Source through our Share the Warmth program allows us to provide immediate and easy access to funding to ensure they have reliable access to heating in their homes.”
The federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) releases funds every winter to all states and territories to help pay utility bills for customers. Atmos Energy is also a member of the National Energy & Utility Affordability Coalition (NEUAC) which is dedicated to heightening the awareness of the energy needs of income-constrained energy consumers.
Significant criteria to apply for these funds from The Senior Source and Atmos Energy include:
- The applicant must be 60 years or older,
- Reside in Dallas or Collin County, and
- Have a monthly household income of less than $30,120 total annual income for an individual or $40,880 for a two-person household (based on 2024 federal poverty level guidelines).
To learn more about how to apply, go to theseniorsource.org/utility.
“We recently had a client in her 80s on a fixed income reach out to us due to a gas line issue heading into fall,” says The Senior Source Intake and Client Navigation Director Shannon Miller. “Funding from Atmos Energy not only allowed us to repair her gas line, but it also provided a new water heater to help her better prepare for the coming colder months. We are so grateful to Atmos for further enabling us to help our neighbors stay safe and warm in their homes – we expect to impact hundreds this season.”
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About The Senior Source
Since 1961, The Senior Source’s mission has been to enhance the quality of life for older adults in greater Dallas. The agency is the go-to resource for older adults including financial guidance, caregiver support, technology classes, volunteer opportunities, utility assistance and more. The Senior Source assists more than 25,000 seniors and their families each year with the services, programs, and resources they need to live with dignity, security and purpose. Learn more at theseniorsource.org.
About Atmos Energy
Atmos Energy Corporation, an S&P 500 company headquartered in Dallas, is the country’s largest natural gas-only distributor. We safely deliver reliable, affordable, efficient and abundant natural gas to more than 3 million distribution customers in over 1,400 communities across eight states located primarily in the South. As part of our vision to be the safest provider of natural gas services, we are modernizing our business and infrastructure while continuing to invest in safety, innovation, environmental sustainability and our communities. Atmos Energy manages proprietary pipeline and storage assets, including one of the largest intrastate natural gas pipeline systems in Texas.
