Eversource Energy’s Ice House event will help raise awareness of the energy affordability crisis that affects more than 400,000 Connecticut households, including West Hartford residents.

Submitted

Operation Fuel is holding its two-day Ice House event to help raise awareness of the energy affordability crisis that affects more than 400,000 Connecticut households.

The second annual Operation Fuel Ice House presented by Eversource Energy will allow people to experience how it feels to live in a freezing home. The Ice House has been extended to two days this year to allow more families to visit over the weekend. Ice House hours will be 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 24, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Jan. 25, 2020 at the Old State House Grounds in Hartford, with a ribbon cutting at 9:30 a.m. on Jan. 24.

Award-winning ice sculptor Bill Covitz and his staff from Ice Matters in Cheshire will build the Ice House on Jan. 23. The ice structure will consist of 40,000 pounds of hand-carved blocks of ice complete with ice furnishings and, new for 2020, an attached ice garage. Another new addition this year: a thermal imaging camera so attendees can have their body heat photographs taken.

Visitors to the Ice House will be able to walk throughout the freezing structure, sit on ice furniture and, for a few minutes, experience how thousands of Connecticut families and individuals will feel this winter as they struggle to stay warm in their own homes. Additional information can be found by visiting www.operationfuel.org/ice.

“No resident should have to go without basic utilities, and yet in our state, 400,000 households are struggling with energy costs – including senior citizens, children, people with medical conditions, and working families,” said Brenda Watson, executive director of Operation Fuel. “Because of the generosity of our donors and sponsors like Eversource, Operation Fuel is able to close the gap for more than 7,200 households a year, but the need is much greater. We hope our Ice House highlights how crucial energy affordability is so we can assist more families.”

“We’ve had a longstanding partnership with Operation Fuel, collaborating on many important initiatives and we’re pleased to sponsor this year’s Ice House event,” said Eversource Senior Vice President and Chief Customer Officer Penni Conner. “We’re always mindful of the effect the cost of power has on our customers. Like our customers, we have no control over fluctuating energy prices, but we do all we can to help them save money and energy. Working together with Operation Fuel on events like this we’re helping to bridge the gap for struggling families and we’ll continue supporting all they do to ensure families in need have access to year-round energy assistance.”

Operation Fuel’s winter energy assistance program started Dec. 2, when its statewide network of more than 100 fuel banks began accepting energy assistance applications. Connecticut families and individuals who are struggling financially should call 211 to find their closest fuel bank.

ABOUT OPERATION FUEL: Operation Fuel provides energy assistance year round throughout Connecticut to lower-income working families and individuals, the elderly, and disabled individuals who are in a financial crisis. Currently more than 400,000 Connecticut households can’t afford their energy bills, which are among the highest in the nation. For more information on Operation Fuel, or to make a donation, go to www.operationfuel.org.

Like what you see here? Click here to subscribe to We-Ha’s newsletter so you’ll always be in the know about what’s happening in West Hartford!