Central Texas Opportunities Community Services has received an additional $93,000 for the Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program to assist residents in Brown, Callahan, Coleman, Comanche, Eastland, McCulloch and Runnels County.

The program may provide utility assistance to low income elderly and/or disabled households most vulnerable to the high cost of energy for home heating and cooling. It may provide utility assistance during sever weather or household crisis and it addresses the needs of the household in developing goals for energy self-sufficiency through case management, education and a co-payment utility plan. Those who are eligible to participate in CEAP are households who are at or below 125 percent of the federal poverty guidelines or households who provide documented need at the time of application. Once provisions are met, priority is given to extremely low to very low income households, elderly, disabled, families with small children and households with the highest energy cost and lowest income.

CEAP is not an entitlement program, which means everyone must apply for the assistance, which is determined on a case by case basis. To apply for CEAP, call CTO at 325-625-4167. CTO offered an energy tip, stating that you can save as much as 10% a year on heating and cooling bills by simply turning your thermostat back 10%-15% for eight hours. That could save up to or more than $250 every year.