The not-for-profit North East Community Action Corporation (NECAC) has more money available for its summer utility assistance program that begins June 1.A mild season meant the agency did not allocate about $170,000 for the winter portion of the Emergency Crisis Intervention Program (ECIP). That money will now be added to the $397,743 NECAC has been allocated in Summer ECIP and Utilicare funding.“We are pleased to have these additional funds available,” said NECAC Community Services Programs Director Linda Fritz. “We can help a lot more households, and not all of them will need $300 of assistance. So, we urge people to give us a call if they need energy assistance.”Summer ECIP pays overdue electricity bills of up to $300 for income-qualifying households. It is funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and is distributed through the Missouri Department of Social Services, which then contracts with NECAC to administer the program in Lewis, Lincoln, Macon, Marion, Monroe, Montgomery, Pike, Ralls, Randolph, St. Charles, Shelby and Warren counties.The $397,743 in summer ECIP and Utilicare funding is up slightly from last year. Assistance was provided to 1,443 households in 12 counties for summer 2016, up from 1,173 in summer 2015.Participants must have received a utility shut-off notice. If they received assistance from the winter portion of the program through NECAC, all that will be needed is the shut-off notice. Those who are new to the program, and those who did not participate in the winter portion, must fill out additional paperwork.People may sign up or request more information by calling or visiting NECAC County Service Centers. The Warren County Service Coordinator is Desiree Antoniou at the Warrenton office at 120 E. Main St. the phone number is 636-456-8191.NECAC