The Imperial Irrigation District Board of Directors approved income qualification updates for their energy assistance programs.

The district expects that the updates will allow about 1,000 additional electric customers to qualify for the energy assistance programs. The action at this weeks board meeting changes the district's income-qualifying programs , increasing the maximum level to qualify by 200 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. Additionally , the board's action includes offering the Residential Energy Assistance Program to self-employed customers. All applicants must provide verification of gross household income. The changes take effect January 1, 2019. More information on the programs is available at the IID website or by calling the district's customer service department.