A partir del viernes, los residentes de Connecticut pueden comenzar a ver un fuerte aumento en los costos de energía justo cuando el verano se pone en marcha y la inflación golpea con fuerza a las personas. Pero hay recursos disponibles, especialmente para los adultos mayores que están sintiendo la presión. Se espera que la tasa de generación del servicio eléctrico estándar de Connecticut aumente significativamente en julio según el proveedor de energía, con el mayor aumento de más de 12 centavos por kilowatt hora. John Erlingheuser de AARP Connecticut dice que este es un desafío, particularmente para las personas con ingresos fijos.

"Los residentes mayores con muchas condiciones médicas necesitan electricidad para mantenerse frescos en el verano. Muchas veces, se encontrarán en una posición de recortar los medicamentos, reducir la electricidad o la comida, para llegar a fin de mes", comentó el entrevistado.

Erlingheuser agrega que los residentes de Connecticut están entre los tres estados con precios de electricidad más altos. Un recurso disponible para aquellos que necesitan ayuda para pagar las facturas de servicios públicos es Operation Fuel. Antes de presentar la solicitud, un hogar debe reunir pruebas de los ingresos de las últimas cuatro semanas de todos sus miembros, el nombre de su proveedor de combustible o una factura de servicios públicos y el historial de pago.

Erlingheuser mencionó que dos programas importantes tienen como fecha límite el 30 de junio: el Programa de Asistencia de Energía de Connecticut y el Plan de Pago COVID-19. Él añade que el plan de pago puede ayudar a ponerse al día con los pagos vencidos y las facturas actuales.

"No necesita tener dinero por adelantado para participar en este programa, y podría extenderse a lo largo de 24 meses, le exonerarán todas las tarifas e intereses en el cálculo de sus pagos mensuales. Por lo tanto, estos son programas importantes, y animamos a la gente a acceder a ellos mientras todavía existen", recordó Erlingheuser.

Puede comunicarse con sus proveedores de servicios públicos para obtener más información sobre planes de pago específicos. Los clientes de Connecticut que tienen condiciones médicas también califican para la protección contra los cortes de servicios públicos debido a la falta de pago. Pueden pedirle a su médico que certifique que tienen una enfermedad grave o una afección potencialmente mortal en el portal de Internet de la empresa de servicios públicos.

Small Business Saturday has come and gone and the North Carolina Sustainable Business Council urged people to keep "shopping local" this season.

The council said supporting homegrown businesses creates jobs and makes communities healthier. One of those businesses is the Little River Pecan Farm, with 100 pecan trees on a 10-acre section of sixth-generation land.

Crissy Neville, the farm's owner, emphasized the need to support local growers. She said shopping at local farms and agro-tourism sites preserves family businesses, but can also benefit the environment.

"Shipping is not involved, trucking is not involved," Neville pointed out. "Essentially, you know, you're buying locally, and that's the best thing that you possibly could do for lowering your carbon footprint."

Neville cited the added benefit of knowing where your food comes from. Studies estimate processed food in the U.S. travels more than 1,300 miles, and produce may travel more than 1,500 miles before reaching the table if it is not grown locally.

Rebekah Miel, owner of Miel Creative Studio in Durham, works with nonprofits to help them amplify their work. She pointed out local businesses often help their communities in ways beyond offering their products or services.

"Small businesses donate 250% more to local nonprofits and community causes," Miel explained. "That is also exemplified in our business. Our 'Design to Give' model means we give at least 5% back to local nonprofits, 1% of which is to local environmental nonprofits."

Anne Shaw, state director for the Small Business Center Network, said there is nothing "small" about the power of small companies. Their overall contribution to the workforce is enormous.

"The 1 million small businesses that exist in North Carolina, they employ 1.8 million employees," Shaw emphasized. "Which represents about 44% of North Carolina employees."

Shaw added research also shows on average, a local retailer will recirculate about 48% of their revenue back into the local economy, compared to about 14% of revenue from a national chain.


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A new report from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau found the repayment process for federal student loans has been filled with errors.

Repayments began in October following a three-year pandemic-related pause. Since then, complaints of inaccurate bills, late notices and poor customer service have only increased.

Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., said borrowers are struggling to reach loan service providers on the phone while more than 20,000 people received grossly incorrect bills.

"Now imagine opening your mail and seeing a bill for 100,000 dollars. This is ridiculous," Pressley asserted.

Pressley pointed out borrowers' financial situations are as precarious now as they were when the pandemic began and argued they deserve student debt relief. Critics countered American taxpayers should not be saddled with college loan debt they did not incur.

Officials with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau said they are working to protect student loan borrowers from incompetent or predatory student loan servicers, including the more than 800,000 people who missed their first payment since the pause was lifted because their bills were mailed out too late.

Rohit Chopra, director of the bureau, said borrowers should be cautious, especially when talking to third-parties contracted by loan servicers for bill payments.

"If you're having trouble, please file a complaint," Chopra urged. "We're often able to get those individuals across the country fixes and sometimes clear answers on what really needs to happen."

The Supreme Court struck down President Biden's student loan forgiveness plan earlier this year, affecting more than 800,000 student borrowers in Massachusetts who would have been eligible to have some if not all their debt erased.


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Today is Giving Tuesday, a day when millions of Americans are expected to make charitable donations.

But it can also be a field day for scammers. Experts have tips on how to make sure your contribution ends up in the right hands.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta says charities are required to file financial reports with the state's Department of Justice, so you can go online and check their registration status.

"You can use our registry: search tool@oag.ca.gov, under charities to ensure a charity is in good standing and is up to date with its financial reporting requirements," Bonta explained.

Consumers are urged to read those financial reports, to find out what percentage of their revenue is spent on the mission versus on staff and overhead. Experts also warn people not to fall for high-pressure tactics used on telemarketing calls.

Bonta urged people to check the name, email and web address carefully to be certain you don't fall prey to a scammer posing as a real charity.

"Take, for example, the American Red Cross of California. Sounds good. But that's not the American Red Cross that we know and love," he said. "It sounds like the Red Cross, but that was actually the name of a now-defunct organization that our office ordered to 'cease and desist' back in 2019 for misleading donors."

Officials also advise consumers to be careful if asked to make a donation via text, QR code or portable credit card reader. Verify that the person asking truly represents a legitimate charity, get a receipt, and check your credit card statement right away to make sure you were charged the correct amount.


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