Mayor Francis G. Slay Announces “Start-Up” Heating-Up St. Louis Grants As Down payments to Needy Electricity Households Wanting A Clean Slate with AmerenUE’s Clean Slate Program.

In response to Ameren UE’s new program, “Clean Slate,” which is going to give customers in St. Louis City and St. Louis County an opportunity for a clean slate on their electric bills within the next 30 days, Heat-Up St. Louis, Inc., a regional non-profit, non-utility charity covering 18 Missouri and Illinois counties, has announced a new special “Start-Up” Heating Grant to help some qualified electric needy households make a 10% or 20% down payment on their bill.

“The AmerenUE settlement from overcharging electric customers has been put to good use. We applaud this program,” says Reverend Earl E. Nance, Jr., vice chairman of the board of directors for Heat-Up St. Louis, Inc. “Unfortunately, it requires a 10 or 20 percent down payment before the arrearages can be paid in full, and in these economic times it’s tough, not only for the needy but for the working poor and working class.” Heat-Up St. Louis officials noted that fewer funds are available during May for energy assistance.

At the AmerenUE press conference, Mayor Francis G. Slay, commended Heat-Up St. Louis officials for the development of their new program, and announced that the City of St. Louis also provided some financial support to the charity.

Reverend Nance, Jr. observed that in parts of Eastern Missouri, gas customers will be left out in the cold, because they use Laclede Gas and other natural gas vendors, who have no such program. Natural gas customers’ usages are higher in the winter months.

Heat-Up St. Louis, Inc. has about $30,000 to distribute in May. It will support some of those qualified electric customers who will need that 10 or 20 percent to participant in the Ameren UE Clean Slate Program. Those qualified individuals requiring a down payment on their electric bills should call the Heat-up St. Louis hotline at 314-241-7668. There will be no administrative fees in the execution of Heat-Up St. Louis’ special heating grants. All donations to Heat-Up St. Louis are 100% tax-deductible, and no administrative costs are used so that every dollar donated goes to the needy.

“If people can have a clean electric slate, it will give them time to do battle with their often high natural gas, propane and home heating oil bills this winter and cooling bills later on this summer,” says Reverend Nance.

The funds will distributed by Heat-Up St. Louis through its agencies as long as the funding lasts.