By Stephanie Samuel

Sentinel Staff Writer

As energy prices continues to climb, the Prince George's County Department of Social Services is working to help residents living on fixed and limited incomes get a break on their gas and electric bills.

DSS officials have putting information in grocery stores, met seniors in community centers and are teaming up with local county libraries to get the word out about the Maryland Energy Assistance Program.

Lavette Simms of the DSS has been a mainstay at the afternoon meetings. In the library multipurpose rooms, she talks to those who drift in about the grant program, which would assist homeowners with up to $2,000 on their gas and electric bills from Pepco and Baltimore Gas & Electric.

"Once we receive the grant, we can assist the bill," she says.

The Maryland Energy Assistance Program has been put forth by the State Department of Human Resources to help low-income state residents. Those who are elderly and receive some kind of government assistance, be it Social Security, disability or veteran benefits, may qualify for automatic eligibility. Once an applicant receives assistance, he/she can reapply, Sims says, as long as there is funding and he/she still has a need.

The need for such a program is definitely out there. Matilda Miracle, a single mother of three children, says she plans to sign up for MEAP right away. She says when she gets her paycheck, "almost 30 percent goes to the Washington Gas utility."

That is a lot for Miracle, who does not have a steady source of income.

"I work for a temp agency, and I don't get paid when I take off or on holidays," Miracle said. She did not get paid the day of the DSS meeting at the Hyattsville Branch Library because she had to attend jury duty. Carrying a stack of MEAP forms for other single moms at her church, she hopes that attending the meeting on her day off will have a big pay off for her and other families.

"I know many mothers who need the help," she said.

Sims understands that many county residents are struggling to pay utility bills. That's why they have also been offering cost-saving energy tips at their meetings. One unlikely energy tip offered to meeting goers is to unplug all household appliances when they are not in use.

"People don't realize if you don't have appliances that are not being used [but are still plugged in], even though they're not on, it's pulling kilowatts," Sims said.

She also gives away energy efficient light bulbs, which can dramatically reduce electric bills.

She also bids those interested in the program to hurry and apply before the program's June deadline. Those who apply before June may be eligible to receive assistance through July 2008 to June 2009. Sims says that the DSS will not stop educating residents about the program once June comes around. Instead she says it will likely try to reach parents by "working with the school system and the parent liaisons."

Contact Stephanie Samuel at

ssamuel@thesentinel.com