Mathews County Social Services has gotten multiple requests from residents who need assistance with high electric bills, but the agency doesn’t have the funds to provide all the assistance being requested.

“People are bringing us power bills for $3,000, $4,000,” said Director Tiffany Gordon. “We don’t have that kind of money.”

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dominion Energy wasn’t allowed to cut off power to customers for nonpayment, said Gordon, but that restriction has ended now, and all those back payments are still due, so cutoff notices are going out. With inflation at record highs, she said, “People are struggling with the cost of gas, food and rent.”

Gordon said her office can make a donation toward a bill, but can’t cover the entire cost, and Energy Share, Dominion’s program to assist customers with high electric bills, doesn’t kick in until a customer has settled up past-due amounts. She said her office is referring people to Hands Across Mathews, United Way, and their...