Community

Donations

Barron Electric gives back to the community through the donations program. Funds for these donations are derived from unclaimed capital credits. Examples of community donations are as follows:

In 2000, Barron Electric donated 16 freezers to local food pantries to help meet the need of additional freezer capacity. Food pantry donations are also made during Capital Credit Days.
In 2001, defibrillators were donated for use in patrol cars in Barron and Washburn County Sheriff Departments and the City of Barron and Spooner patrol cars, as well as to the Long Lake First Responders.
In 2002, a donation of $10,000 was made to the Barron Area Community Center, and a donation of $5,000 was awarded to the Ridgeland Community Center.
In 2003, Barron Electric donated $2,000 to the Barron County Library Service, and $500 to Nature's Edge Therapy Center.
In 2004, Barron Electric partnered with the Wisconsin Masonic Foundation to provide funds for the purchase of defibrillators for five area high schools.

Barron Electric also makes annual donations to the following organizations in the communities we serve:

FFA Chapters
Boy Scouts
Girl Scouts
Hospice Programs

Please visit our Press Releases page to view information on recent donations.

Public Benefits

Beginning in October of 2000, all electric providers in Wisconsin were required under Reliability 2000 legislation to collect monthly fees aimed at improving energy conservation and efficiency and fostering low-income energy assistance programs for Wisconsin residents.

For cooperatives, the fee amount is $16.00 per year or $1.33 per month from each account. Half of the money collected is to be used for energy conservation programs and the other half to fund low-income energy assistance and weatherization programs. Since Barron Electric already offers an energy conservation program (load management), we only have to collect half of the fee or $.66 per month per location to fund low-income energy assistance programs.

Cooperatives and municipalities had the option of sending the funds to the Department of Administration for statewide distribution or creating their own low-income energy assistance program and distribute the funds locally to their own members. We chose to develop our own low-income energy assistance program, because we believed that having local control would provide a greater benefit and flexibility in meeting the needs of our low-income members.

The Human Services Departments of Barron, Washburn, and Rusk Counties agreed to partner with us in developing, administrating, and improving our Commitment to Community Program. Members in Burnett, Dunn, Chippewa, Polk, and Sawyer Counties will receive their Commitment to Community Funds directly from Barron Electric.

Over $100,000 is given to low-income Barron Electric members for energy assistance each year.

Distribution of Funds

Barron Electric's Commitment to Community Program is designed to help households with their energy costs, including electricity bills. Members may be eligible for assistance if they meet the WHEAP guidelines listed below. For members residing in Barron, Washburn, Rusk, and Sawyer Counties, contact your County Human Services Department. Their phone numbers are listed below:

Barron County	715-537-5691
Washburn County	715-468-4747
Rusk County	715-532-2299

For members residing in Burnett, Chippewa, Dunn, Polk, and Sawyer Counties, contact the Finance Department at Barron Electric at 800-322-1008.

Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program (WHEAP):

WHEAP is a federal program designed to help households with their energy costs. Households may be eligible if their gross income for the last three months is less than the amount shown below.

HouseholdSize	3 Months Income
1	$3,367
2	$4,545
3	$5,722
4	$6,900
5	$8,077
6	$9,255
7	$10,432
8	$11,610

One-time Annual Assistance

Funds from the Commitment to Community Program will provide assistance to low-income members by providing a credit, equal to 25% of the fuel heating assistance, towards their electric bills. This financial assistance will be available one time per year, however the percentage will change depending on the funding and need.

Emergency Assistance (year around)

In the event that a member has no heat or electricity, or received a disconnect notice from their heating fuel or electric supplier, and the member is unable to pay for heating and electricity needs, they may be eligible for crisis assistance. The Human Services Department determines the appropriate benefit amount. For Barron, Washburn, and Rusk Counties benefits include:

the purchase of heating fuel or electricity
the purchase of an electric heater
the repair or replacement of a furnace
the repair or replacement of cooling equipment, if justified by a medical condition
the purchase of an efficient refrigerator or water heater
other actions deemed necessary

Budget Counseling & Weatherization

The Barron, Washburn, and Rusk County Human Services Departments will also provide information on how to reduce fuel costs and suggestions on how to manage money. Members needing weatherization will be referred to the appropriate agencies.