This past Friday was the first of six Access to Service events running through the winter to more directly assist Evansville residents with utilities and other services that can help.
CenterPoint Energy, Evansville Water and Sewer Utility and other agencies such as the Salvation Army and even local township trustees were at the CK Newsome Center.
Noah Stubbs is director of communications for the city of Evansville.
“There was an ‘ask’ from those in the community to just bring those customer service representatives from the utility and together in one place and in person, so that you can, you can resolve any matter that you might have.”
The next event is December 8, from 5-7 p.m. at the C.K, Newsome Center in Evansville.
On Friday, CenterPoint Energy and the city water and sewer utility were the biggest organizations present.
CenterPoint Energy Customer Outeach Representative Emily Parker says residents brought a variety of questions to CenterPoint staff.
“… maybe talking about and ‘how do I set myself up on budget bill? Can I have a pay arrangement? When does the Energy Assistance Program start’ that's administered through the community action program.”
Parker says they even brought community concerns such as street lights that are out on their block.
She says they also asked about heating season safety measures and bill assistance programs.
The Evansville Water and Sewer Utility was there to answer questions face-to-face about their bills and attempt to address some issues they might be experiencing.
Ella Johnson-Watson with the EWSU said aside from helping residents figure out their bills, they’ve also diagnosed line leak issues in their home which was causing unusually high water bills.
