Multi-Service Center and Puget Sound Energy’s partnership begin in 2002 to provide energy assistance benefits to PSE customers in South King County. Today, the PSE HELP program provides over $24 million in annual direct benefits to clients in the form of credits on electricity and gas bills through MSC.
Since PSE introduced their Bill Discount Rate (BDR) program in 2023 and moved to self-attestation, allowing customers to complete the entire application process through their website, the number of people that MSC has been able to support with PSE HELP has skyrocketed. Prior to the program, MSC was providing energy assistance to around 9,000 households per year. The first year of online applications, MSC served 20,397 households, and this last fiscal year served 33,456 households with energy assistance
This dramatic increase is due to PSE removing barriers for people to access the assistance they need. Households are able to go to PSE’s website and complete a simple application for assistance. Their online application is then sent to MSC where our team processes and does any required follow-up around eligibility, removing the need for clients to come to our office for an appointment for PSE HELP benefits.
In addition to making the application process more accessible, PSE also provides higher income eligibility requirements for households to qualify for assistance. For example under federal guidelines a family of four needs to have income under $4,019 a month to qualify for LIHEAP but can earn up to $10,096 a month and qualify for PSE HELP. This allows households that do not meet the federal income guidelines but may still be struggling to meet their monthly living costs eligible to receive energy assistance through PSE HELP.
“Both MSC and PSE believe in reducing barriers for people to access the opportunities they need and our continued partnership is a testament to our commitment to do so,” shares Oksana Savolyuk, MSC’s Energy Assistance Director. “We are honored to have a partner in our work like PSE who recognizes the importance of equitable access and supporting organizations like MSC who are working directly with our communities.”
PSE’s partnership with MSC extends beyond our energy assistance program. They have also provided grants to support our food bank and housing programs and sponsor MSC events like our upcoming MSC Helps Luncheon! Customers can apply directly for the BDR and PSE HELP program on PSE’s website at PSE.com.
