Union Gas has recognized that more Grey Bruce families might be having a hard time paying their bills this winter.
The utility has doubled its local contribution to the Winter Warmth program and extended the deadline for qualifying.
The program is run by the United Way of Bruce Grey and helps families in arrears pay their utility bills and stave off disconnection.
Executive Director Francesca Dobbyn says Union Gas has given an additional 75 hundred dollars on top of the 75 hundred in the fall.
And she says on top of that they’ve topped up the United Way’s Community Fund by 6 thousand dollars.
Dobbyn says when the Union Gas money ran out in February, residents responded by making donations to the Community fund which was then used to help families pay their bills.
In all she says they’ve had 28 thousand dollars to help people get through another winter.
Dobbyn says there’s about 5 thousand left.
Families must be in arrears by two months to qualify and now have until the end of June.