Atmos Gave $400K to Help County Residents Pay Gas Bills

Residents struggling to pay their natural gas bills may have more help available than they realize.

Pam Hughes-Pack, public affairs manager for Atmos Energy, visited the Olney City Council on June 23 to remind city officials about the company’s financial assistance programs and encourage them to refer residents who may be facing hardship.

“If you have a resident who is struggling to pay,” Ms. Hughes-Pack told the council, “you want to keep these programs in mind so that we can be of service to them.”

She said Atmos works with a network of nonprofit organizations that provide energy assistance to qualifying customers, particularly senior citizens and others living on fixed incomes who face unexpected expenses, such as repairing a natural gas leak on private property.

Ms. Hughes-Pack encouraged residents to contact Atmos before seeking outside help because the company may be able to assist directly through its Share the Warmth program. The program is funded through donations from Atmos customers as well as company contributions and helps eligible customers avoid having their gas service disconnected during times of financial hardship.

Since 2021, the company has invested more than $3 million in infrastructure improvements within the city, including nearly $1 million during the past year alone. She also noted that Atmos provided nearly $400,000 in charitable donations over the past year to nonprofit organizations serving Young County.