Austin Energy offering support to those impacted by government shutdown

According to the City of Austin, about one-third of customers who qualify for the utility’s Customer Assistance Program do so through enrollment in SNAP.

AUSTIN, Texas — City of Austin Utilities is helping people affected by SNAP disruptions during the federal government shutdown.

During the shutdown, Austin Energy is taking a number of actions, including:

According to the City of Austin, about one-third of customers who qualify for the utility’s Customer Assistance Program do so through enrollment in SNAP. Some of those programs include utility bill discounts, financial support, services for the medically vulnerable and home energy improvements.

“We want to make sure that we’re having those conversations, talking about those flexible payment options and also potentially connecting them to further community resources through the United Ways 211 service,” Austin Energy Public Information Officer Matt Mitchell told KVUE on Sunday.

Austin Energy is also hosting its annual Community Connections Resource Fair on Nov. 15 at Eastside Early College High School from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.