Image by Flickr user I, Timmy

The unusually hot summer paired with the lingering recession has had Lowcountry residents scrambling for cash in order to pay their soaring utility bills.

The Charleston County Human Services Commission and Trident United Way have been inundated with please for help throughout the summer months. According to The Post and Courier:

Through June of this year, for cooling assistance alone, the federally funded Human Services Commission helped 1,873 households at a cost of $997,000. By comparison, last year it assisted 1,261 households during the same time span with $471,000.

SCE&G has also initiated Project Share, made up of donations from company workers and customers to provide utility assistance. They also offer energy saving tips on their website.

The Post and Courier has a lengthy piece on the high cost of energy bills for June and July as well as an extensive list of who to call for those in need of help paying their utility bills.