CALGARY- Some High River homeowners got an early Christmas gift, after the Red Cross stepped in to pay some unexpected bills.
Last month, hundreds of residents in the flood-ravaged town learned they were on the hook for utility bills from Direct Energy, which did not bill them for five months. That resulted in invoices of nearly $1,000 for some customers.
After the Global News story aired, the Red Cross contacted Direct Energy to offer financial assistance for those affected.
“Red Cross will help pay for utility bills as part of the recovery assistance program,” explains Jenn McManus, provincial director of the Red Cross. “This time of year we know it’s difficult to make ends meet, and in a post-disaster recovery scenario it’s even more stressful.”
So far, the Red Cross has contributed $17 million to flood relief in southern Alberta, and continues to help those who were affected.
“If a family or an individual has received assistance to date, they’re more than welcome to come back and revisit us,” McManus adds. “We know the recovery process is a continuum and it’s not over yet, so we are still here supporting community members.”
Direct Energy is now contacting all of the affected families by phone, to let them know about the Red Cross’ offer. The company says they can’t simply ‘forgive’ the charges.
The Red Cross has a $36 million fund to help flood victims—40 per cent of it was donated from outside of Alberta.
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